Why Starlink won't open Vietnam's heavily censored internet
Starlink promises better connectivity in remote and mountainous areas. But in one of Southeast Asia's most tightly controlled online environments, more network access doesn't mean more free speech.
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service has begun selling to Vietnamese customers, despite the country's heavily censored internet. SpaceX received approval from Vietnam's government to launch Starlink on a controlled trial basis, with a limit of 600,000 subscribers until the end of 2030. The trial is being operated through Starlink Services Vietnam, a local subsidiary of SpaceX.
Despite Vietnam having an extensive conventional internet infrastructure, Starlink could potentially provide satellite internet to remote and mountainous areas with weaker terrestrial infrastructure. However, the service is relatively expensive, with a cheapest monthly household plan at around €37, making it unaffordable for many rural households.
The arrival of Starlink does not seem to loosen Vietnam's tight control over online speech, as the service will still be subject to state security concerns.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
