Vietnam’s VinaPhone and Viettel have earned top spots on the global stage, with VinaPhone’s 5G network ranked second worldwide and Viettel placing third for overall mobile performance, according to Ookla’s latest Speedtest report.

In Ookla’s Q1–Q2 2025 reports on the world’s fastest 5G and overall mobile networks, Vietnamese telecom giants VinaPhone and Viettel were recognized among the top three globally.

Specifically, Viettel placed third globally for overall mobile speed with a Speed Score of 82.56 - surpassing major carriers like Singtel (Singapore) and SK Telecom (South Korea). Meanwhile, VinaPhone’s 5G network was ranked second in the world with a Speed Score of 78.11, just behind the UAE’s e&, the world leader.

Ookla’s Speed Score is calculated based on millions of user-initiated tests conducted through its Speedtest platform, factoring in download speed (70%), upload speed (20%), and latency (10%).

To be eligible for regional or global recognition, networks must represent at least 3% of the total sample in their respective areas and have won a national Speedtest award during the same period.

Earlier in February, iSpeed - Vietnam’s official internet speed testing platform under the Ministry of Science and Technology - reported Viettel leading the market with an average 5G speed of 226.27 Mbps, followed by VinaPhone at 157.17 Mbps. Vietnam’s average 5G speed stood at 187.58 Mbps.

In April 2025, Vietnam’s mobile broadband speed reached 136.21 Mbps - up 167.7% from 50.88 Mbps a year earlier. The country now ranks among the top 20 globally for mobile internet speed, climbing 37 spots in download speed since 2024, according to Ookla.

The international recognition of Viettel and VinaPhone reflects strategic and large-scale investments in Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure. Viettel commercialized its 5G service in October 2024, followed by VinaPhone in December 2024.

Viettel currently operates more than 6,500 5G BTS stations, covering all provincial capitals, industrial parks, tourist sites, seaports, airports, hospitals, and universities. By the end of January 2025, the carrier had 5.5 million 5G subscribers and aims to expand to over 20,000 5G stations this year. Viettel also plans to cover over 90% of the population with 5G and convert 70% of its mobile user base to 5G.

VinaPhone, the first operator to announce full 5G coverage, now boasts nearly 4 million 5G users after just six months of commercialization. 5G devices now account for 80% of VinaPhone's subscriber base, reflecting strong user readiness for next-generation services.

VinaPhone will continue to expand its 5G network while enhancing user experience with high-bandwidth, low-latency applications like cloud gaming, e-commerce livestreams, augmented/virtual/mixed reality (AR/VR/XR), 4K/8K/360-degree video, and social media. The company offers a wide range of high-data 5G plans at competitive rates, with benefits including data sharing, free access to popular social media platforms, and access to educational and entertainment ecosystems.

To support the rapid rollout of 5G, the Ministry of Science and Technology has implemented pilot mechanisms, streamlined regulatory barriers, and introduced financial incentives. As of now, 26% of Vietnam’s population has access to 5G services.

Du Lam