At the 35th APT Wireless Group (AWG-35) meeting, held from September 8 to 12 in Thailand, 421 delegates from 21 countries, 47 companies, and two international organizations convened. Vietnam chaired the conference and presented several key research initiatives, including planning and deploying 5G and 6G networks in the 6 GHz band, as well as introducing its mobile interference detection solution, iSpectra.

Earlier, on September 4, the ARFM (under the Ministry of Science and Technology) officially launched the iSpectra system. This milestone is significant not only for frequency management but also for science and technology, marking a step forward in applying digital transformation and technological advancement to enhance national management and development.

In recent years, the explosion of 4G and 5G networks, along with rapid urbanization and a surge in wireless devices, has led to an increasing number of base stations experiencing interference, degrading network quality.

Identifying and resolving interference issues for mobile base stations has traditionally been labor-intensive and time-consuming for both network operators and regulatory agencies. This challenge necessitated a national-level solution for monitoring and mitigating mobile network interference.

Vietnam’s iSpectra system transforms BTS stations into sensors that monitor and collect real-time data, enabling detection, alerts, localization, and resolution of mobile signal interference. This homegrown solution was introduced at the APT conference.

The AWG highly praised the system and assigned Vietnam to lead research into AI/ML-based interference detection and control solutions.

The APT also recommended that countries adopt the 600 MHz frequency band plan using the 2x40 MHz configuration (APT600), which offers better spectrum efficiency than the 2x35 MHz model currently implemented only by the United States. This recommendation provides a valuable reference for Asian countries to plan their 600 MHz spectrum use, aiming to enhance 5G and 6G coverage. The APT600 band is expected to become a global standard, benefiting from a well-developed device ecosystem, much like the now widely adopted APT700 band.

Vietnam is also leading research on planning and deploying 5G/6G in the 6425-7125 MHz band (6 GHz), expected to be completed in Q3 2026. This research has garnered widespread participation from countries and corporations including China, India, Laos, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Ericsson, Nokia, GSMA, CCK, Samoa, HPE, Viasat, Inmarsat, and Axiata.

Vietnam has decided to allocate part or all of the 6 GHz band for 5G/6G deployment. The ongoing study will provide a valuable international reference for Vietnam’s future 6 GHz spectrum planning.

On the topic of 5G development, China outlined its vision and strategy for 2027, aiming for 85% population coverage, 5G to handle 75% of data traffic, and over 100 million IoT connections. China plans to boost 5G-Advanced, with goals of 38 base stations per 10,000 people, 70,000 private 5G networks, and 5,000 edge computing nodes. It is also expanding its application ecosystem with 200 specialized solution providers, 50 innovation hubs, and comprehensive security frameworks for critical sectors.

Meanwhile, Japan achieved 98.1% 5G population coverage as of March 2024, with 5G subscribers now surpassing 50% of mobile users (while 4G accounts for 49%). Under its digital infrastructure roadmap, Japan aims to reach 99% 5G coverage by 2030, with the number of base stations increasing from 260,000 in 2023 to 300,000 in 2025 and 600,000 by 2030, including 300,000 shared infrastructure stations.

These initiatives demonstrate how 5G can serve commerce, industry, and society, forming a comprehensive, synchronized, and sustainable digital infrastructure that propels national digital transformation.

AWG continues to study 6G technologies focused on high performance, sustainability, and AI integration. Objectives include simplified network architecture, optimized migration from 5G, reusing mid-band infrastructure, and improving spectral efficiency using 200–400 MHz channels.

6G will incorporate native AI for automated management, energy efficiency, and reduced CAPEX/OPEX. It will also support seamless connectivity between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

Advanced use cases such as integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), extended reality (XR), and AI-based services will unlock new revenue streams. The standardization process is expected to begin with 3GPP Release 20 (2026–2027) and complete in Release 21 (2027–2029) for submission to the ITU.

Network and spectrum sharing models such as MORAN, MOCN, roaming, MVNO, and spectrum leasing offer substantial cost savings, better coverage, and more efficient spectrum use. However, appropriate policies are needed to maintain competition.

Vietnam-led research is providing strategic direction for countries developing legal frameworks for RAN and spectrum sharing, balancing competition and efficiency while opening up cooperation opportunities and promoting sustainable digital infrastructure.

Vietnam also emphasized the growing role of satellite and low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations in bridging the digital divide and expanding access to high-speed, low-latency broadband in remote areas.

Advanced technologies such as non-terrestrial networks (NTN), multi-orbit constellations, software-defined satellites (SDRs), inter-satellite links, AI/ML, and quantum technology are ushering in a new era of flexible and sustainable global digital infrastructure.

LEO systems offer transformative potential for digital transformation, supporting education, healthcare, disaster management, and essential digital services. However, major challenges include regulatory frameworks, spectrum management, cybersecurity, and sustainable space utilization.

These discussions serve as a critical foundation for Vietnam and other nations to formulate policies that maximize the benefits of emerging technologies for synchronized and inclusive digital infrastructure development.

AWG-35 marked the final session of Dr. Le Van Tuan’s tenure as AWG Chairman, a role he held for two consecutive terms over six years. Dr. Tuan, Director General of the ARFM, was widely commended by Japan, South Korea, China, India, and the APT Secretariat for his leadership, personal reputation, and impressive achievements during his time as Chair. Under his guidance, the AWG published two recommendations and more than 60 research reports on key areas of wireless communication management, including frequency planning, technological development, interference detection and resolution for systems such as IMT, satellites, IoT, smart transport, railways, aviation, and wireless charging.

The conference unanimously honored Dr. Le Van Tuan with the title of AWG Honorary Chairman and expressed a strong desire for his continued contributions in the future. Dr. Daejung Kim of South Korea was elected Chairman for the 2026–2028 term.

Thai Khang