Qualcomm committed to Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem

What are the highlights in Qualcomm’s performance in Vietnam in 2024?

In 2024, we solidified our role as a strategic enabler of innovation and digital transformation with remarkable progress in Vietnam. A key milestone was the commercial deployment of Viettel's 5G infrastructure using Qualcomm’s Open RAN technologies with QDUX100, QRU and Edgewise SMO systems completely powered by Qualcomm. This achievement not only established Vietnam as one of the global pioneers in deploying Open RAN-based 5G systems but also opened opportunities for scaling these solutions to international markets such as Latin America, Africa, and India.

Nam Thieu, country director of Qualcomm Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm also reinforced our commitment to fostering Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem. Through initiatives like the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, the company supported local startups with $375,000 in funding and provided engineering expertise to drive advancements in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart city solutions. Additionally, our state-of-the-art advanced labs in Hanoi enabled rapid prototyping and product development, empowering Vietnamese OEMs under the "Make in Vietnam" initiative.

On the AI front, Qualcomm continued to lead with over 2.5 billion AI-enabled devices shipped globally, emphasising the shift of AI processing to the edge. This focus on on-device AI offered improved privacy, security, and real-time responsiveness for various applications, including mobile devices, industrial IoT, and automotive technologies. Furthermore, Qualcomm’s Cloud/Edge AI solutions introduced cost-efficient platforms for enterprises, with strategic partnerships like VinAI driving optimisation and innovation in AI services.

Could you share about advances in the company’s investment, R&D, and AI innovation?

Qualcomm has made substantial progress in investment, R&D, and AI technology innovation in Vietnam as we have long-term vision for empowering digital transformation and fostering local technological capabilities.

We made investments in advanced engineering labs in Hanoi provide essential facilities for testing and prototyping, empowering local partners and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) under the “Make in Vietnam” programme to develop globally competitive products.

In R&D, Qualcomm focuses on advancing connectivity technologies such as 5G, NB-IoT, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0, providing a solid foundation for diverse tech applications. Through the Make in Vietnam programme, we incentivise OEMs to design, test, and make certification solutions to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of Vietnamese producers. Our reference designs–ranging from smartphones and AI cameras to AI boxes and Wi-Fi mesh systems–are continually developed and optimised for the Vietnamese market. Additionally, AI research in industry verticals like agriculture, healthcare, smart cities, and industry unlocks new opportunities, driving sustainable tech solutions in Vietnam.

Our advanced labs in Hanoi are further accelerating local R&D, providing state-of-the-art facilities for prototyping and testing next-generation technologies.

On the AI front, Qualcomm is leading the shift towards on-device and Hybrid AI, distributing workloads across the device, edge, and cloud to improve efficiency, privacy, and cost-effectiveness. By distributing AI workloads across on-device, edge, and cloud architectures–we refer it as Hybrid AI–Qualcomm optimises resource allocation for large AI models, ensuring seamless, cost-efficient, and scalable AI deployment. For users, this means faster response times, improved data privacy, and personalised experiences without relying heavily on cloud connectivity. For businesses and organisations, it unlocks opportunities to develop advanced AI applications that are not only high-performing but also more accessible, secure, and adaptable to various.

At what stage are advancements in AI applications in digital products and services in Vietnam?

AI applications in digital products and services are at a transformative stage in Vietnam, and I see immense potential for this technology to drive innovation and growth across industries. With Vietnam’s strong focus on digital transformation, AI is not just a trend but a cornerstone for enabling smarter, more efficient, and highly personalised solutions. From healthcare and education to smart cities and industrial the Internet of Things (IoT), AI has the capacity to address local challenges while unlocking new opportunities for businesses and communities.

At Qualcomm, we see the future of AI as hybrid–an architecture where AI processing is distributed between the cloud and edge devices to meet the growing demands of GenAI. As its adoption accelerates, the need for scalable, efficient, and cost-effective Compute solutions becomes paramount. A hybrid AI model, which distributes processing between the cloud and edge, addresses these needs by unlocking AI's full potential.

This is particularly relevant as GenAI drives advancements across sectors such as smart cities, personalised retail, immersive digital experiences, and advanced the Internet of Things operations. Hybrid AI enables the real-time, privacy-preserving applications required in these areas, such as instant translation and personalised recommendations, while also leveraging the cloud’s vast capabilities for more complex tasks.

With Qualcomm's ongoing partnerships and investments in Vietnam’s tech ecosystem, including local R&D labs and the development of scalable reference designs, we are creating a foundation for Vietnamese businesses to harness AI at global standards.

What are Qualcomm’s plans for Vietnam in 2025 and beyond to increase local revenue?

In 2024, Qualcomm is proud to have collaborated with VNPT Group to introduce the groundbreaking XGS-PON WiFi 7 technology in Vietnam. As the first network operator in the Asia-Pacific region to deploy this advanced platform, VNPT leveraged Qualcomm's cutting-edge 10G Fiber Gateway platforms to launch a new generation of Internet services with ultra-fast speeds, stable connectivity, and extremely low latency.

Other key collaborations with enterprises like GHTK and Vietnam Airlines are also unlocking AI-driven efficiencies in areas such as OCR, pose detection, and GenAI applications.

In 2025 and beyond, Qualcomm's strategy for Vietnam builds on scaling Cloud/Edge AI solutions to drive local revenue growth. Through partnerships with Viettel IDC and VinAI, we are building an Inference-as-a-Service ecosystem, delivering cost-efficient AI platforms with a 30 per cent TCO advantage over competitors.

Looking ahead, these initiatives are expected to drive strong revenue growth in Vietnam over the next three years, while positioning the country as a key player in the AI value chain, driving regional adoption and innovation. We at Qualcomm remain committed to empowering local businesses with cutting-edge AI solutions, enhancing their competitiveness globally.

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