(Corrects determine in paragraph 4 to $1.5 billion, not $15 billion)
By Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio
HANOI (Reuters) – Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to speculate $1.5 billion in Vietnam within the close to future, the federal government of the Communist-run nation mentioned on Thursday, which may assist resolve a stalemate over the launch of its Starlink satellite tv for pc providers there.
Months of talks on the supply of Starlink’s satellite tv for pc web connection and different communications providers had been placed on maintain on the finish of 2023, sources accustomed to the matter had instructed Reuters earlier this yr, though they resumed later.
“The Vietnamese authorities is contemplating the (funding) proposal of SpaceX,” a report on the federal government portal on Thursday quoted President To Lam as saying, asking the corporate to work intently on finishing preparations for the funding.
The comment adopted the chief’s assembly in New York with SpaceX authorities affairs official Tim Hughes, who mentioned the corporate deliberate to speculate $1.5 billion in Vietnam, a promising marketplace for its satellite tv for pc web service, the report added.
The federal government didn’t make clear the place SpaceX’s funding can be made, nor when particulars could possibly be agreed.
U.S.-based SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
Vietnam’s overseas ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark.
With 100 million individuals, Vietnam is a big person base for U.S. web firms equivalent to Meta’s Fb (NASDAQ:) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:), however its ageing tools can disrupt operations of key optic fibre undersea cables.
Giant mountainous swathes additionally make web providers much less dependable in Vietnam, which may additionally use satellite tv for pc web for duties equivalent to tighter patrolling within the disputed South China Sea the place it’s typically at odds with China.
Such a step could not go down nicely with Beijing, nevertheless.
INVESTING WHERE?
Thursday’s information follows a report this month on the federal government portal that cited Hughes as saying SpaceX aimed to supply Starlink providers to the Southeast Asian nation, after the 2 sides had resumed talks.
On the time, Hughes, the corporate’s senior vice chairman for international enterprise and authorities affairs, mentioned SpaceX’s deployment of web providers in Vietnam aimed primarily to learn training and catastrophe prevention efforts, state media reported.
Final yr’s talks had been stymied by questions on possession of the corporate SpaceX must arrange in Vietnam, which limits foreigners’ holdings in such companies to half, whereas SpaceX wished not less than a controlling stake, sources had instructed Reuters.
It’s unclear whether or not this subject remains to be a hurdle.
Vietnam additionally requires information to be saved domestically, with strict controls on what’s seen on-line.
Business sources instructed Reuters SpaceX has suppliers in Vietnam, a significant industrial hub house to massive manufacturing operations of U.S. companies and their contractors.
Apple (NASDAQ:), with dozens of suppliers within the nation, mentioned in April it wished to speculate extra by growing spending on them.
(This story has been corrected to say $1.5 billion, not $15 billion, in paragraph 4)
