Minister of Information & Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh try calling each other with 5G video on a made-in-Vietnam device. Photo: H.T

In May 2019, Vietnam made its first 5G-powered phone call. Its internet speed of 1.5-1.7Gbps surpassed the speed of 4G LTE service and matched the speed of commercial fiber cable. 4 months later, in September 2019, Vietnam announced a limited 5G service. In January 2020, the first 5G-powered phone call using 5G devices produced by Vietnam was conducted.

In October 2020, Vietnam licensed commercial 5G service and a month later piloted its first commercial 5G service.

5G technology provides IoT (Internet of Things) and IoE (Internet of Everything) services. Remote operation, automated factories, self-operated automobiles, and flying cars will be controlled on the 5G platform which will be constantly refined. 5G and an ecosystem of digital infrastructure, digital solutions, digital finance, and digital content will build an e-government, a digital economy, and a digital society in Vietnam.

Lieutenant General Le Dang Dung, Acting President and Director General of the Viettel group, a 5G pioneer in Vietnam, said, 'Viettel has taken a major step toward establishing a modern digital society. Viettel is realizing its promise to the government and the people to make Vietnam a world leader in 5G technology toward realizing the goal of building a digital society in Vietnam by 2025.'

Vietnamese network suppliers have pioneered in research and production of 5G devices. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam said, 'The Ministry of Information and Communications has encouraged and helped Vietnamese telecommunications companies research and produce telecommunications devices. We hope that Vietnam’s telecommunication network will use equipment and facilities designed and produced by Vietnam.'