Vietnam's 5G network reaches quarter of population with over 11,000 basestations - report

　　Vietnam's three major telecom operators – Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone – have deployed around 11,000 basestations across the country, according to the latest report by the Authority of Radio Frequency Management.

　　The state-backed Vietnam News Agency (VNA) cited the report, which stated that these 5G base stations now cover approximately 26% of the population, equivalent to about 7.7% of existing 4G stations.

　　The Authority of Radio Frequency Management is under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

　　According to the VNA, the three telecom operators have increased their efforts to build infrastructure and gain more subscribers. They are also working to offer 5G services on a large scale nationwide.

　　The news outlet reported that Viettel, which was the first to conduct a commercial 5G launch last October, now has six million 5G subscribers and has set its sights on increasing this number to 10 million by the end of the year.

　　The telecom operator has plans to install 20,000 5G base transceiver stations this year. This move is expected to boost current data transmission speeds by more than 2.5 times. Furthermore, Viettel is currently developing a broader ecosystem of 5G-based applications, particularly in the business-to-business (B2B) segment.

　　Its rival, VNPT, currently has over three million active 5G subscribers through its mobile service subsidiary, VinaPhone. The operator has partnered with several international firms, including Nokia, Ericsson and M1, to explore new opportunities in data transmission, AI platforms, network APIs and vertical service integration.

　　MobiFone has reportedly gained more than 2.5 million active users and plans to add 10,000 more base stations. The company has focused its 5G expansion in major cities and provincial centers and aims to provide 5G coverage to 100% of communes nationwide.

　　5G yet to gain sufficient momentum

　　According to industry observers cited by the VNA, 5G has yet to gain sufficient momentum in the country. Currently, deployment is concentrated in urban areas, and many companies and consumers still prefer the more established 4G network. Vietnam's 4G network at present covers 99.8% of the population.

　　Doan Quang Hoan, the vice chairman and general secretary of the Radio and Electronics Association of Vietnam (REV), emphasized the importance of mobile operators adopting the right business strategies. He urged providers to offer 5G services that meet subscriber demand and generate value.

　　Rita Mokbel, chairwoman and general director of Ericsson Vietnam, told the VNA that deploying standalone 5G (5G SA) is necessary to maximize the technology's potential. She added that expanding mid-band frequency coverage is also necessary.

　　Macky Zhang, the general director of Huawei Vietnam, noted that operators should optimize existing infrastructure while expanding unique service ecosystems. Zhang added that 5G provides new revenue opportunities through B2B models.

　　Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) is determined for commercial 5G services to take off in Vietnam this year. It has set a target to provide 5G coverage to 99% of the population by 2025, at a minimum 100 Mbits/s data speed.

　　The government, through the National Assembly's Resolution 193, offers telecom operators financial support of 15% of equipment costs for operators that manage to install and put at least 20,000 stations into operation by the end of the year.