In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) auctioned and licensed 100 MHz of the 2600 MHz band to Viettel, along with two C-band blocks (3700–3800 MHz and 3800–3900 MHz) to VNPT and MobiFone.

Sharing insights with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Le Van Tuan, Director General of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management, emphasized that achieving nationwide high-speed 5G coverage requires access to both mid-band and low-band spectrum.

“Although Vietnam commercialized 5G later than many other countries, we’ve made remarkable progress in just one year,” Tuan said.

According to Ookla’s August 2025 report, Vietnam’s average mobile download speed reached 152.17 Mbps-almost triple the 56.95 Mbps measured in August 2024. This surge propelled Vietnam to 16th place globally, up 26 spots.

Notably, Viettel ranked among the top three global carriers in mobile internet speed, while VNPT was second globally for 5G download speed.

Only a year after licensing 5G spectrum to carriers, Vietnam’s 5G speed and quality have reached impressive milestones, ranking among the countries with the highest download speeds.

According to Speedtest Intelligence from Ookla, Vietnam’s average download speeds now range between 150 and 200 Mbps.

However, leading 5G countries like the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and South Korea boast speeds between 400 and 600 Mbps. To close the gap, Vietnam must expand its available spectrum for 5G.

Globally, top 5G carriers hold extensive spectrum allocations. In the US, for example, T-Mobile possesses over 200 MHz of mid-band spectrum (including C-band), granting it an edge in both speed and coverage.

South Korea’s SK Telecom, a global 5G pioneer, owns large, contiguous frequency blocks.

In Europe and the Middle East, mobile operators generally hold at least 100 MHz and are targeting 200 MHz to remain competitive.

The key difference is not in equipment technology but in the spectrum width available to carriers.

While 100 MHz is a good starting point, it is not sufficient to create breakthroughs in speed and capacity-especially when compared to global competitors.

To join the world’s top-tier, Vietnam must expand spectrum allocations and implement 5G Advanced.

Unused C-band frequencies are critical resources

These are foundational steps for nationwide 5G deployment.

However, a valuable national resource remains untapped: 180 MHz of C-band spectrum (3600–3700 MHz and 3900–3980 MHz).

Amid surging data demand and fierce global competition in digital transformation, activating this unused C-band spectrum is more than a technical necessity-it’s a strategic imperative for 5G Advanced and Vietnam’s digital economy growth.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Doan Quang Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Radio-Electronics Association, noted that C-band frequencies were originally allocated to Vinasat satellites. However, Vietnam now has extensive fiber-optic infrastructure reaching most residential areas.

In addition, Vietnam’s undersea fiber optic cable network has seen major investment, establishing a strong national transmission backbone.

Meanwhile, mobile services such as 4G, 5G, and eventually 6G are contributing significantly to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development and GDP.

Therefore, reassigning part of the C-band from satellite to terrestrial mobile use makes strategic sense, as mobile connectivity is critical to economic growth.

Hoan stated that a shift in spectrum policy is now feasible thanks to technological advancements allowing Ku-band frequencies to better support satellite communications.

As a result, many countries have already phased out C-band use for satellites in favor of terrestrial mobile networks.

"Once Vinasat-1 and Vinasat-2 reach the end of their operational lifespans, their orbital slots can be reused by new satellites," he added.

"The recently issued National Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan already includes a provision to reallocate part of the C-band for terrestrial mobile use once these satellites are retired. This reallocation is essential to maximize the efficiency of frequency resources for Vietnam’s future development."

To Manh Cuong, CEO of MobiFone, echoed the sentiment, stressing that the demand for high-speed mobile services continues to grow.

Mobile operators, he said, require sufficient spectrum resources to meet customer needs, and early spectrum planning is crucial to support future societal growth.

Thai Khang