Starlink launches limited trial in Vietnam, but censorship rules stay intact
Starlink has begun a government-approved trial in Vietnam, offering satellite broadband at about €37 a month, but it must operate under the country's strict internet censorship regime.
SpaceX’s satellite broadband arm Starlink opened a controlled rollout in Vietnam, with orders now being taken for residential plans priced near €37 per month and terminal kits around €284. The trial, authorized in March 2025, limits participation to 600,000 subscribers and runs until the end of 2030, using four domestically licensed gateway stations overseen by the ministries of Science and Technology, National Defence and Public Security.
Officials argue the service can extend internet access to mountainous, island and disaster-prone regions where fiber and 5G are scarce. However, analysts note the cost exceeds average rural incomes, suggesting shared use by schools or clinics rather than individual households. Vietnam’s Freedom on the Net rating remains low, and recent decrees require foreign platforms to comply with rapid content removal, so Starlink will be required to follow the same censorship regime, offering no circumvention of the “Bamboo Firewall.” Experts say the rollout improves connectivity but does not guarantee greater freedom of expression.
Why it matters
The launch shows advanced internet services can expand access without weakening state censorship, affecting digital rights and rural connectivity.
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