🗓️ Saturday, November 15, 2025
📍 Thailand

🚫 Thailand Says "No Thanks" to Starlink: 100% Foreign Ownership a Dealbreaker

The "No" to Starlink: Here’s Why Thailand’s Not Interested

Thailand has rejected Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet offer, citing one major dealbreaker: foreign ownership. Apparently, Thailand isn't willing to hand over its telecom networks to a foreign giant, even if that giant happens to be run by the world’s richest man with a flair for launching things into space. 🛰️💸

Minister Chaichanok Chidchob was clear: "No matter how shiny the Starlink system is, we need to think about our digital security and telecom ecosystem."

His point? Full foreign ownership of telecom infrastructure in Thailand could compromise national security, and they’re just not having it. 🚫

What’s Up with Elon Musk and Starlink?

SpaceX’s Starlink — the low-orbit satellite internet service that promises to beam Wi-Fi to the farthest reaches of the Earth — knocked on Thailand’s door with an offer to provide services through a 100% foreign-owned company. But the Digital Economy and Society Ministry slammed the door shut.

SpaceX, under the all-seeing eye of Elon Musk, had a simple pitch: they wanted to expand Starlink’s internet access to underserved areas of Thailand, not to compete with local providers. But, there's a catch: Starlink’s expansion plan hinges on 100% foreign ownership, as per some White House directive SpaceX pointed to. 🚀

Minister Chaichanok, not one to be easily swayed by billionaires, responded by saying he’s seen no such White House announcement and requested clarification from Thailand's Prime Minister’s Office. In the meantime, he wasn’t about to change Thailand’s laws just to make Elon Musk’s life easier.

The Real Reason Thailand’s Not Into Starlink: Privacy Concerns (and Musk’s Track Record)

Let’s face it, even though Starlink promises fast satellite internet in the middle of nowhere, Thailand’s government is right to have privacy concerns. Musk’s track record with user data and privacy isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement.

Remember when he was sued by Twitter users for the whole privacy debacle post-acquisition? Or when SpaceX allegedly had some not-so-transparent dealings with US government agencies about user data? 🤔

Can you blame Thailand for being a little cautious? After all, giving a company like SpaceX — with global ambitions and access to satellite networks — 100% control over the country’s telecoms infrastructure doesn’t exactly scream "safe choice" for national security. Especially when Musk’s other ventures haven’t exactly been smooth sailing. Whether it’s Twitter’s content moderation chaos, Tesla’s data privacy issues, or his somewhat erratic personal decisions, Thailand might just have a point.

Why Thailand’s Sticking to Its Guns

Thailand’s telecom laws don’t allow 100% foreign ownership of telecom firms, and they’re not about to change that just because a guy with a space program and a Twitter obsession is asking nicely. National security comes first. And while Starlink may offer high-speed internet to rural areas, Minister Chaichanok was quick to point out that allowing such a shift could mess with the whole market ecosystem — and that’s a risk Thailand isn’t willing to take.

What About Vietnam?

While Thailand gave Starlink the cold shoulder, Vietnam welcomed it with open arms earlier this year. Vietnam allowed Starlink to operate for a pilot period with no foreign ownership restrictions, proving once again that Elon Musk’s charm works differently in every country. 🌍

So, while Starlink might be cruising through space, its ambitions on Earth have hit a major roadblock in Thailand. 🚧

💻 Scam Centers in Southeast Asia Are Using Starlink — Yes, Really

Starlink: Not Just for Space Geeks

Elon Musk’s Starlink isn’t only for mountaintops, yachts, or your neighbor wanting ultra-fast Wi-Fi. Some scam centers in Southeast Asia have been secretly relying on these satellite internet systems to keep their operations humming — even when local internet fails. 😬💻

Yes, scammers are tapping into space tech. A reliable, high-speed, hard-to-block connection is very attractive when your business model involves… less-than-legal emails and calls. 🕵️‍♂️🚫

Why Starlink Works for Scammers

• High-speed & low-latency — ideal for running multiple scams at once. ⚡
• Doesn’t rely on local ISPs — harder to be cut off. 🔌
• Portable — move a terminal, get instant connectivity anywhere. 🎯

In Conclusion

Starlink’s ambitious push to expand internet access across the globe faces resistance in Thailand due to national security concerns and the government's unwillingness to allow 100% foreign ownership. While Elon Musk and SpaceX might have a lot of cool tech, it’s clear Thailand isn’t willing to roll the dice when it comes to its digital sovereignty.

No matter how good the internet speeds, national security and privacy come first. And let’s be real — in the world of Musk’s ever-changing ventures, Thailand’s caution doesn’t seem all that unreasonable. 😏