The nationwide commercialization of 5G is a key step in realizing the goal of universalizing the national digital infrastructure

The official commercialization of 5G technology has been voted as one of the top 10 prominent information and communications technology (ICT) events of 2024. The commercial launch of 5G in Vietnam was marked by Viettel’s rollout on October 15, covering 100% of the downtown of all provinces and major cities nationwide, including industrial parks, tourist areas, seaports, airports, hospitals and universities.

On December 20, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) officially announced its VinaPhone 5G network coverage equipped with super internet speeds, aiming to expand coverage further in 2025 and reach 85% of the population in the near future. MobiFone also plans to commercialize 5G in early 2025 with the goal of nationwide coverage.

In April 2024, Viettel won the bid via auction to secure the right to use radio frequencies for the B1 band (2,500-2,600 MHz), while VNPT won the bid via auction to secure the right to use C2 band (3,700-3,800 MHz). In July 2024, MobiFone won the bid to secure the right to use the 3,800-3,900 MHz band.

The nationwide commercialization of 5G is a key step in realizing the goal of universalizing the national digital infrastructure, driving the development of digital applications and the digital services ecosystem, and creating a new momentum for economic growth and productivity improvements.

5G technology is forecasted to yield US$1.5 billion in revenue for Vietnamese telecom operators by 2030. 5G services are expected to contribute 7.3-7.4% to Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025.

5G offers significantly improved data throughput, lower energy consumption, support for artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), and a latency for sending and receiving signals that is only one-fifth of 4G. It is estimated that in 2025, 5G networks will use 10 times less energy than 4G, contributing to a sustainable digital environment and energy efficiency./.