Driving digital transformation with 5G

What do you think about Vietnam's digital infrastructure readiness for 5G commercialisation?

Vietnam is steadily building the necessary digital infrastructure to support 5G, with a key milestone being the recent auctions for 5G frequency bands by the Ministry of Information and Communications. They’ve allocated licences for the 2600 MHz and 3700 MHz spectrum bands, which are essential steps in this journey.

To fully unlock the potential of 5G, continued collaboration between telecom operators and technology providers like Ericsson will be crucial. Together, we can lay the groundwork for Vietnam's journey towards becoming a digital economy.

Rita Mokbel, head of Ericsson Vietnam

Compared to other countries in the region, where is Vietnam placed in 5G infrastructure and commercialisation?

Vietnam is making strong progress, especially with the auctioning of 5G frequencies. And based on the awarding of 5G contracts, we will soon see rapid deployments in the country. The current focus is on upgrading from 4G to non-standalone 5G. Given the availability of spectrum, accelerated 5G deployment in Vietnam could bring immediate benefits to consumers and enterprises in the country.

5G sets the stage for more immersive entertainment, more engaging education and bridging the knowledge divide. Emerging formats such as 4K, 360-degree experiences, and multi-view videos are increasingly driving usage and 5G data consumption. Better connectivity translates to improved education through remote learning, smarter cities, improved public services, greater digital inclusion and better quality of life.

When it comes to enterprises, 5G is the foundation for flexible efficient operations, increasing productivity, improving knowledge base and ensuring cost savings. For example, the manufacturing industry stands to benefit from the deployment of Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies, deriving new level of efficiencies, quality improvement and higher productivity. 5G is the common thread underpinning the success of new and exciting enterprise use cases and solutions due to its seamless, reliable, and secure connectivity.

Can you share any recent examples of 5G use cases around the world, and how can Vietnam learn from them?

5G is making a big difference globally, especially in industries that rely on fast, reliable connectivity. For example, in Singapore, we have worked with Singtel to enhance the Formula 1 experience by using 5G network slices to offer premium video streams. India rolled out the fastest 5G networks achieving 90 per cent 5G coverage in just 21 months.

Today as we speak, India has 198 million 5G subscriptions, the highest data consumption globally, at 23GB per month per active smartphone user has moved from 86 to 16 in the global ranking of network performance.

Government recognition of the need for digital infrastructure, effective spectrum allocation and management, and strong support for simplified deployment rules enabled India to deploy 5G nationwide at the fastest speed globally. Leveraging 5G as a foundation for its digitalisation journey, is yielding economic benefits to the country already today, with the estimates suggesting a $455 billion impact by 2040.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s DNB network has become a global showcase for 5G. Based on the government’s commitment to leverage 5G to drive Malaysia’s leadership in the region, Malaysia is enjoying more than 80 per cent coverage, one year ahead of schedule. Today, in terms of the network experience for consumers, it is ranked Top three in the world in terms of 5G experience.

5G is clearly providing a competitive edge to countries like India and Malaysia with the governments creating the right enablers, and Vietnam can take inspiration from these examples.

How is Ericsson supporting Vietnam in developing digital infrastructure, as well as supporting telecommunications businesses to effectively commercialise networks and increase revenue?

Since 2019, we have been involved in 5G pilot projects with local telecom companies, allowing us to gain insights specific to the Vietnamese market. We are well-positioned to support the commercialisation of 5G in Vietnam, having deployed 5G in 166 of the 320 5G networks deployed globally.

Our goal is to help operators smoothly transition from 4G to 5G, optimise their network performance and support them in deriving value from their networks. From private 5G networks to smart cities and fixed wireless access, we have focused on helping operators deliver value from 5G and drive the country's broader digital transformation agenda.

Besides coordinating with Vietnamese network operators, what are Ericsson's current and upcoming priorities to support building innovative 5G use cases suitable for Vietnam?

We’re working closely with local operators and enterprises to develop use cases tailored to Vietnam’s unique needs. Our focus areas include private networks for industries like manufacturing and logistics, as well as supporting the government’s smart city initiatives.

We’re also looking at fixed wireless access as a way to provide reliable, high-speed internet in areas where traditional fiber networks might be difficult to deploy. In addition, we’re committed to fostering innovation through partnerships with universities and research institutions like RMIT to develop the skills needed for Vietnam’s digital future.

There is a growing and evolving app economy that leverages new API platforms, services, and software-as-a-service via new open programmable network architecture. We plan to collaborate with service providers in Vietnam in APIs.

What new development space will digital infrastructure in general and 5G in particular open up for businesses, as well as Vietnam's digital economy?

5G has the potential to be a game-changer across a wide range of industries, enabling automation, improving productivity, and streamlining resource management. Sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and smart cities will benefit the most. For Vietnam, 5G will play a critical role in advancing Industry 4.0, attracting foreign investments, and driving economic growth.

Private 5G networks, in particular, will allow businesses to innovate and reduce costs while providing telecom operators with new revenue opportunities. Overall, 5G will be instrumental in Vietnam’s goal to achieve a digital economy that is expected to contribute 20 per cent of its GDP by 2025.