Vietnamese telecom operators are significantly advancing the rollout of 5G infrastructure across the nation, according to local reports from the Authority of Radio Frequency Management. The three main carriers—Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone—have installed nearly 11,000 5G base stations, effectively covering 26% of the population.
Viettel is the frontrunner with more than six million 5G users and aims to expand to 10 million by the end of the year. The company plans to significantly increase 5G infrastructure with 20,000 additional base stations that would boost transmission speeds by over 2.5 times. Meanwhile, VNPT is extending its 5G reach, especially in critical industrial areas, while MobiFone is focused on urban and provincial centers.
Despite these efforts, Doan Quang Hoan, vice chairman of the Radio and Electronics Association of Vietnam, notes that 5G development is yet to fully gain momentum. The current network primarily serves urban users keen on advanced digital applications, while a considerable portion of consumers continue to rely on 4G.
An exciting development came earlier this year when Viettel secured a 700 MHz spectrum block for around $75.2 million. This spectrum, with its broad reach and suitability for urban and rural coverage, promises extensive services including IoT applications for smart cities and intelligent transportation. This new frequency is a crucial asset in Viettel’s quest to achieve 99% nationwide coverage by 2030.
The operators have been progressively setting milestones. Notably, Viettel launched the country’s first commercial 5G service in late 2024. In a similar timeline, VNPT and MobiFone contributed to the expanding 5G landscape, offering services in December 2024 and March 2025, respectively.
