Vietnam Surpasses 45,000 5G Base Stations, Accelerates 6G R&D

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Vietnam is accelerating its preparations for 6G commercialization, aiming to leverage the experience gained from the deployment of 4G and 5G to compress the cycle from research and development, technology mastery, to commercial application.

The Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam has established a steering committee dedicated to 6G research and development, with the goal of engaging with the technology from the initial stages of international standard-setting, mastering core technologies, and preparing for deployment tailored to local conditions. Nguyễn Anh Cương, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority, stated that significant progress has been made in Vietnam's 5G infrastructure construction, while preparatory work for 6G R&D is also advancing in parallel. He emphasized that 6G, as a global technology, requires collaboration among governments, enterprises, and international standards organizations to ensure compatibility of telecommunications infrastructure worldwide.

Cương drew a comparison with Vietnam's mobile communications technology development trajectory: from the release of the 4G standard to mastering the technology and producing equipment, Vietnam took over eight years; by the 5G phase, this cycle had been shortened to approximately two years.

As of early 2026, Vietnam has built over 40,000 5G base stations, covering approximately 90% of the population. Among these, about 250 base stations utilize equipment designed, manufactured, and deployed by local Vietnamese enterprises. The country plans to continue expanding the number of base stations using locally manufactured technology and to increase the share of telecommunications infrastructure products and technologies developed domestically.

Earlier information indicates that Vietnamese telecommunications enterprise Viettel has joined Qualcomm Technologies' 6G Early Access Program, becoming the program's first global partner. The two parties aim to complete the first pre-commercial 6G call by early 2029, using systems and equipment developed and manufactured by Viettel.

According to Vietnam's digital infrastructure development plan, by 2030 the country will provide fiber-optic network access with speeds of no less than 1 Gbps to 100% of the population, achieve 5G network coverage for 99% of the population, and conduct 6G network trials.