$570 Million Investment Planned for Satellite Infrastructure
Amazon plans to roll out its Kuiper satellite broadband services in Vietnam, according to a statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The announcement followed a meeting in Hanoi between Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long and Gonzalo de Dios, Amazon’s head of Global Licensing and Project Kuiper.
The US tech giant has committed to investing $570 million by 2030. The funds will support infrastructure development, including up to six ground stations and terminal manufacturing facilities. These will be located in the northern province of Bac Ninh through partnerships with local firms.
New Entity Established in Vietnam
To support its expansion, Amazon has formed a local entity named Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, the company has already submitted an application to operate low Earth orbit satellite services in the country.
Project Kuiper aims to bring broadband internet access to underserved areas, such as remote regions and islands. According to the ministry, Amazon’s application outlines a five-year pilot programme intended to provide services to residential, commercial, and government users.
Competing With Starlink in Vietnam’s Satellite Market
Vietnamese authorities have also granted approval to Amazon’s rival, Starlink, to run a similar satellite broadband project over the same five-year period. This positions Vietnam as a new battleground for next-generation internet access via space-based networks.
The first 27 satellites for Project Kuiper were launched in April from Florida. This marked the beginning of Amazon’s delayed plan to build an orbital network to deliver global broadband connectivity.
Amazon has yet to issue an official response to the announcement, as the update was released outside of US business hours.
with inputs from Reuters