Two years ago, Vietnam had only 184 operational 5G base stations nationwide. Today, that number has skyrocketed to over 35,000 - an almost 200-fold increase - marking a rapid acceleration in the country’s digital infrastructure. Among Vietnam’s major telecom providers, Viettel has emerged as the dominant player, accounting for more than 80% of all 5G base stations deployed.

These figures were released at the annual review conference for the postal and telecommunications sector on January 10. The expansion from under 1% 5G coverage to approximately 90% within such a short span underscores Vietnam’s digital leap forward, especially considering that 5G is the foundational technology for next-gen applications such as automation, IoT, and smart cities.

Viettel leads the charge

In 2025 alone, Vietnam rolled out more than 26,000 new 5G base stations. On December 22, the Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed that Viettel had completed the deployment of over 20,000 of these stations. By year’s end, the company had pushed its total number of 5G stations to 30,000 - further cementing its position as the country’s 5G trailblazer.

According to independent network analytics firm Ookla, Viettel’s 5G network was also ranked the best in Vietnam. Testing showed that 97.4% of speed samples on the network met or exceeded the thresholds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. These results were driven by Viettel’s relentless expansion efforts throughout 2025.

“Infrastructure breakthroughs are driving subscriber growth and service revenues for Viettel,” said Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group. In 2025, the company achieved a 13.8% growth rate - its highest in recent years - and now boasts nearly 13 million 5G subscribers.

“Bringing 5G to everyone is a promise Viettel made to the Party, the Government, the military, and the people,” a company spokesperson added, reaffirming their goal to roll out another 20,000 stations in 2026.

Unlocking future technologies

Images of self-driving cars, automated factories, smart homes, urban surveillance systems, and remote surgeries have long represented the vanguard of modern technology. In reality, each of these applications demands distinct connectivity capabilities.

Autonomous vehicles require ultra-low latency and hyper-accurate data transmission at high speeds. Smart factories must manage millions of interconnected devices - robots, cranes, assembly lines - all communicating in real time. Environmental sensors and land monitoring tools demand minimal bandwidth but maximum energy efficiency. Meanwhile, remote surgery systems call for ultra-fast connections that can transmit ultra-clear visuals in real time for surgical precision from afar.

These vastly different demands simply cannot be met by pre-5G networks. However, achieving 5G’s promise of high-speed, low-latency performance often means deploying more base stations than previous network generations.

This is because 5G relies on high-frequency spectrum bands, which have shorter range and lower ability to penetrate obstacles compared to the lower-frequency bands used by 4G. For 5G networks to perform reliably, especially at scale, a denser distribution of base stations is essential.

A national strategic priority

Resolution 57-NQ/TW - on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation - outlines Vietnam’s goal to build modern digital infrastructure and achieve nationwide 5G coverage by 2030. 5G and next-gen telecom networks are identified as foundational strategic technologies for national advancement.

Globally, achieving deep 5G coverage typically takes 4–7 years, as seen in countries like the U.S., China, and South Korea. Vietnam’s ambition to popularize 5G within a shorter timeline demands strong commitment and heavy investment from digital infrastructure enterprises.

“In 2026, the Department of Telecommunications aims to elevate Vietnam’s digital infrastructure to the level of advanced nations, targeting 170 Mbps mobile speeds, 300 Mbps fixed broadband speeds, and 99% population coverage with 5G,” a department representative said at the January 10 meeting.

In tandem with building infrastructure, Viettel has also mastered the design and manufacturing of a complete ecosystem of 5G network equipment.

“Viettel aims to lead in 5G infrastructure by focusing on AI integration and sustainable green services, supporting national digital transformation and enhancing Vietnam’s global competitiveness,” stated a representative from Viettel Networks.

Quang Pham