The delay in the launch of Starlink in Vietnam might be nearing a resolution after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s and Vietnam’s President To Lam’s recent meeting in New York. According to the government’s website, SpaceX has proposed investing $1.5 billion to bring Starlink services to Vietnam.
The official portal also referenced the meeting between SpaceX’s SVP of global business and government affairs, Tim Hughes, and Lam, currently attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Vietnam’s mountainous regions make providing internet services nationwide difficult. However, SpaceX will beam down internet connectivity to about 100 million Vietnamese from satellites orbiting above the Earth.
Hughes said Starlink will help the country’s education and disaster management efforts. Typhoon Yagi recently tore through the country, leaving 300 fatalities and more than $1.6 billion in property destruction.
It is not clear yet where or how the sum will be invested.
As reported by Reuters, negotiations on the Starlink rollout in Vietnam broke down over the nature of the local company SpaceX would have to set up and how user data is stored, as the country requires domestic storage. However, both parties have resumed talks.
On the other side of the world, Starlink has gone live in Burundi. The satellite internet service will soon conquer more of the skies with a new deal with United Airlines.
