Viettel to deploy over 2,000 5G Open RAN stations in 2025
Under the deal, the two sides will accelerate joint projects in strategic fields including 5G/6G infrastructure, AI-driven network management, data centres, smart devices, and AI applications for government and business. These technologies align with Vietnam’s target of a 30% digital economy share of GDP by 2030.
Viettel to roll out over 2,000 5G Open RAN stations in 2025 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 𝕴 — Viettel and Qualcomm have signed a strategic partnership aimed at making Vietnam a global hub for technology research and development.
Under the deal, the two sides will accelerate joint projects in strategic fields including 5G/6G infrastructure, AI-driven network management, data centres, smart devices, and AI applications for government and business. These technologies align with Vietnam’s target of a 30% digital economy share of GDP by 2030.
The collaboration, which began in 2009, has already produced breakthroughs such as the world’s first 5G Open RAN base station using Qualcomm chipsets.
Viettel plans to deploy more than 2,000 such stations nationwide in 2025, positioning Vietnam among the six countries capable of manufacturing 5G network equipment.
The product has been exported to the Middle East and nominated for the “Open RAN Excellence” award at Network X Awards 2025 in Paris.
The two companies also co-developed the world’s first 5G AI camera for smart traffic, now in use across Vietnam and entering global markets.
Past joint achievements include Vietnam’s first “made-in-Vietnam” 3G USB modem, Wi-Fi AP devices, and the VIPPHONE secure smartphone.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon praised Viettel’s strong R&D team and problem-solving drive, while Viettel Chairman Lt. Gen. Tao Duc Thang said the deepened cooperation will open “historic opportunities” for Vietnam’s tech industry.
In 2009, Qualcomm licensed its chipsets to Viettel, enabling the development and production of Vietnam’s first “made-in-Vietnam” 3G USB modem, offering download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and upload speeds of 5.76 Mbps.
By 2017, the two companies had jointly created Viettel’s first domestically made Wifi Access Point, delivering triple the speed of comparable products at only about 70% of the cost.
In 2018, Viettel gained rights to use Qualcomm patents to develop, manufacture, and distribute 3G and 4G devices. That same year, they co-produced the VIPPHONE, a secure smartphone capable of encrypting calls and messages to the highest global standards, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 security chipset and an encryption algorithm considered unbreakable even by supercomputers./.
The partnership between Viettel High Tech and DU aligns with the UAE’s national digital strategy, which prioritises investment in telecommunications infrastructure to drive economic growth. Successful trials will pave the way for large-scale commercial deployment, positioning the UAE as a global hub for advanced telecommunications technology.
Viettel on November 13 officially announced the commercial launch of its Open RAN (O-RAN) 5G Network, featuring key equipment developed in-house at the 5G Open RAN Connect conference held at the Viettel High Tech headquarters in Hanoi.
The Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group officially launched the 5G network on October 15, becoming the first to officially provide this service in Vietnam.
CMC has forged enduring ties with Korean tech giants, including Samsung SDS, SK Telecom, LG, and Hyundai IT. As Samsung SDS’s Global Delivery Centre, CMC has carried out over 125 projects with more than 1,000 engineers, generating about 20 million USD in revenue.
Nationwide, fixed broadband speeds reached an all-time high, averaging 258.28 Mbps for downloads and 195.34 Mbps for uploads, a 2.6-fold increase from July 2024.
The future of the Internet lies in the industrial Internet, where production lines, industrial robots, and smart sensors are interconnected to optimise the entire manufacturing ecosystem, said a leader of the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre/
The first phase of the CMC Hyperscale DC, dubbed the “AI heart” of the city, will have a capacity of 30 megawatts and cost 250 million USD, with plans to scale beyond 100 MW. The facility, to be located in Saigon Hi-Tech Park, will adhere to global standards for technology and cybersecurity.
In his speech, party General Secretary To Lam cited the RoK’s “Miracle on the Han River” as proof of the transformative power of technology-driven growth, urging both nations to make it a strategic pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
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Three Vietnamese engineers have won Gold Award at The Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities 2025, held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China).
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VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
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The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
