Brian Jeffrey
As of October, Vietnam has achieved an 82.3% fiber-optic broadband connectivity rate among households, reflecting a 2% increase since February 2024, based on the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) data. Additionally, smartphone usage is at 88.7% among mobile users.
On January 11, 2024, the Prime Minister approved a comprehensive plan for telecommunications and IT infrastructure development, laying the groundwork for the country’s digital transformation.
This initiative spans from 2021 to 2030, with long-term objectives set for 2050, and emphasizes the importance of digital infrastructure for national growth.
The focus is on transitioning to a digital economy, encouraging innovation, and boosting Vietnam’s global competitiveness by integrating physical and digital realms.
The “Digital Infrastructure Strategy to 2025, with a Vision to 2030” from MIC outlines four key components: telecommunications and internet systems, data frameworks, physical-digital interfaces, and digital services.
Each component is designed to be robust, sustainable, and intelligent, catering to the needs of a digital economy, society, and government while prioritizing security and resilience.
According to the national digital transformation report from October 2024, six provinces – Ca Mau, Long An, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Ben Tre, and Lang Son – have created localized strategies for executing the national IT infrastructure plan. The report also noted that as of September, 761 remote regions still faced limited mobile coverage, with 637 of those sites having power access and 124 without.
Efforts to improve fiber-optic connection continue, with 3,551 villages currently without fiber infrastructure. However, there has been notable advancement in deploying 5G services.
Earlier this year, MIC auctioned 5G spectrum licenses to Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone, allowing them to establish 5G networks. By mid-October, Viettel launched its 5G service, with 6,500 base stations covering all provincial capitals and key areas such as industrial parks, tourist destinations, ports, airports, hospitals, and universities nationwide.
The report identified challenges, especially in areas with unstable electricity supply. The expenses of using generators to power base stations, coupled with low revenue from these areas, pose difficulties for telecom companies.
Moreover, the diverse terrains in some locations increase the costs of extending electricity and fiber-optic services.
To overcome these obstacles, MIC has suggested that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, State Capital Management Committee, Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN), and local authorities collaborate to develop supportive infrastructure.
These collaborative efforts will assist telecom providers in reaching underserved areas and extending fiber connectivity to more households.
According to the “Digital Infrastructure Strategy to 2025, with a Vision to 2030,” Vietnam aims to provide universal fiber-optic connectivity to all homes by 2025, ensuring complete coverage of high-tech zones, IT parks, research centers, innovation hubs, industrial regions, and international airports with 5G services.
By 2030, the target is to ensure all users have access to fiber broadband speeds of at least 1Gbps, and that 5G mobile broadband covers 99% of the population.
