Vietnam says Musk's SpaceX plans $1.5b Starlink investment

Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to invest $1.5 billion (AED 5.5 billion) in Vietnam in the near future, the government of the Communist-run nation said on Thursday, which could help resolve a stalemate over the launch of its Starlink satellite services there.

Months of talks on the offer of Starlink's satellite internet connection and other communications services were put on hold at the end of 2023, sources familiar with the matter had told Reuters earlier this year, although they resumed later.

"The Vietnamese government is considering the (investment) proposal of SpaceX," a report on the government portal on Thursday quoted President To Lam as saying, asking the company to work closely on completing preparations for the investment.

The remark followed the leader's meeting in New York with SpaceX government affairs official Tim Hughes, who said the company planned to invest $15 billion (AED 55 billion) in Vietnam, a promising market for its satellite internet service, the report added.

The government did not clarify where SpaceX's investment would be made, nor when details could be agreed.

With 100 million people, Vietnam is a large user base for US internet companies such as Meta's Facebook and Alphabet , but its ageing equipment can disrupt operations of key optic fibre undersea cables.

Large mountainous swathes also make internet services less reliable in Vietnam, which could also use satellite internet for tasks such as tighter patrolling in the disputed South China Sea where it is often at odds with China.