The number of 5G subscriptions in Vietnam is forecasted to reach 6.3 million by 2025, according to a report on 5G development in Southeast Asia.
According to a press release, Vietnam and Singapore are expected to be the first countries in the region to roll out the latest wireless communications technology in 2020-2021. The report noted that the market penetration in Vietnam in the early stage of 5G implementation will be lower than that in Indonesia and Thailand, but growth is projected to accelerate in the later stage.
The early launch of 5G services could help Vietnamese mobile carriers increase revenues by US$300 million a year, starting from 2025. However, they need to invest about US$1.5-2.5 billion in technology during the 2020-2025 period.
Last year, Vietnam’s e-government development index ranked 88th out of 193 countries, of which the online public services index jumped 10 places to rank 59th out of 193 countries in comparison to 2016. The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) recently announced it has required network operators to upgrade mobile number portability rates to 80%. Statistics from the MIC showed that the number of successful network transfers from the beginning to the end of the third quarter of this year reached 77.3%.
Apart from developing a robust 5G infrastructure, the country is also working towards expanding fibre-optic Internet connectivity. Recently, the Vietnam Internet Association hosted Internet Day 2020, marking the 23rd year since Vietnam became part of the global internet network.
With the theme “Digital Transformation in Vietnam: From Aspiration to Reality”, the event’s discussions centred around cloud computing, 5G Services, e-payments and mobile money, blockchain, free and open-source software (FOSS), and “Make-in-Vietnam” digital technologies.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said 2020 marks the start of national digital transformation. Vietnam must seize the opportunities to promote faster, stronger, and broader digital transformation, with governmental bodies, enterprises, and the community together becoming engaged, he said.
Vietnam is among the top 20 countries with the highest number of internet users, according to Chairman of the Vietnam Internet Association Vu Hoang Lien. Internet Day 2020 aims to help stakeholders translate digital transformation goals into reality, he added.
The country’s digital economy reached US$14 billion this year, a year-on-year increase of 16%, making it among the best performers in the region. Its digital society index also saw a modest improvement this year, rising 12 points from 2019, according to a report from GSMA Intelligence.
To accelerate digital transformation, Vietnam needs to expand its Internet access and look towards universal Internet access, said Nguyen Trong Duong, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Information and Communications’ Computerisation Agency.
The country should also focus on developing national digital infrastructure to meet booming demand for the Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices, and machine-to-machine communications, growing digital platform ecosystems and expanding the national cyberspace by increasing “Make in Vietnam” digital platforms, he noted.
