Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest nations globally in rolling out fifth-generation mobile networks. By early 2026, domestic telecommunications operators had installed more than 40,000 5G base stations, extending coverage to approximately 92% of the population. The achievement places Vietnam 5G deployment among the most rapid rollouts seen anywhere in the world, despite the country not being among the earliest adopters of the technology.
Rapid Rollout Surpasses Global Benchmarks
According to Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the speed of Vietnam 5G deployment has been remarkable. Most countries typically require three to five years to reach 90% population coverage, yet Vietnamese operators accomplished this in a significantly compressed timeframe. Cuong noted that this demonstrates the technological capabilities, optimisation skills, and network mastery of domestic telecommunications companies.
Beyond network infrastructure, Vietnam has also made notable strides in equipment manufacturing. Out of the more than 40,000 operational 5G base stations, approximately 2,500 have been domestically researched and manufactured to international standards, accounting for roughly 6% of the total. Network operators are now working to further increase the proportion of domestically produced equipment across their systems.
Vietnam’s mobile broadband speed has reached 210.85 Mbps, placing it ninth globally. The country’s IPv6 adoption rate stands at 67%, ranking second in Southeast Asia. These figures underline the broader momentum behind Vietnam 5G deployment and the telecommunications sector’s sustained growth.
Preparations for 6G and Domestic Technology Mastery
A representative from the Department of Telecommunications emphasised that telecommunications technology requires global consensus and uniformity for seamless network operation. Research and standardisation for 6G networks are being carried out through international bodies including the International Telecommunication Union and 3GPP.
To prepare proactively, the Ministry of Science and Technology has established a 6G Steering Committee. The committee brings together telecommunications and frequency management agencies, technology companies, and universities. Its mandate includes conducting early research into 6G network technology, creating conditions for businesses and research centres to access and contribute to the development of 6G standards, and identifying deployment options suited to Vietnam’s conditions.
Cuong highlighted the country’s accelerating pace of technology mastery. Previously, it took Vietnam more than eight years from the standardisation of 4G to produce and master the associated equipment. With 5G, that timeline was shortened to nearly two years. Building on the foundation accumulated from previous network generations, officials expect to further reduce the research timeline and master 6G technology as soon as it is officially deployed.
Digital Transformation and Broader Sector Growth
The digital technology industry generated revenue of approximately 662,724 billion VND, with hardware and electronics exports reaching roughly 21.5 billion USD. Vietnam now has over 81,600 digital technology enterprises nationwide. More than 4.6 billion transactions have been processed through the National Data Integration and Sharing Platform, and 32.5 million digital signature certificates have been issued.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has finalised regulations guiding the implementation of the Law on Digital Transformation and submitted the National Digital Transformation Strategy. The ministry has also issued regulations on investment management, quality management, and the deployment of controlled pilot models, establishing a foundation to promote digital government, the digital economy, and digital society.
Vietnam 5G deployment continues to serve as a cornerstone of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda. The Ministry announced a 100-day intensive action plan to address bottlenecks in digital transformation within the political system. In the coming period, the ministry will focus on accelerating strategic technology tasks, perfecting financial mechanisms for research, and guiding ministries and localities in developing strategic technology products.
Vietnam has also risen five places to rank 50th globally in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, with 964 science and technology enterprises and 46 innovation support organisations now operating across the country.