Vietnam’s exciting journey towards a connected future

Rita Mokbel, President, Ericsson Vietnam

Ericsson has been in Vietnam since 1993 and we have been a partner to the country through generations of mobility, bringing the benefits of connectivity to the people of Vietnam. Together with leading operators, we have launched 5G in Vietnam and are working with them to ensure Vietnam is at the forefront of 5G developments, sharing our technical capabilities, market insights and thought leadership.

Globally, 2024 saw some extraordinary examples of how 5G can rise to the challenge of high-traffic scenarios. From the Paris Global Sporting Event and the European Football Championships to Taylor Swift’s Eras concerts, these events demonstrated the power of 5G to deliver seamless connectivity in demanding conditions. These cases represent the real-world potential of 5G and its ability to redefine connectivity.

We expect that by 2029, more than 70 per cent of the mobile traffic will be carried over 5G. It is therefore important that more spectrum is made available by the government in the 2027-2028 timeframe to be able to meet the data growth, especially in dense, urban cities.

There are also numerous existing and futuristic 5G use-cases that can potentially bring a paradigm shift across enterprises helping them become more efficient, future-ready as well as sustainable.

The possibilities that the Internet of Things, 4G, and 5G create for enterprises will not only put enterprises on a fast track to meet the demands of the new world, but more importantly, contribute to the socioeconomic development of Vietnam.

The future focus will be driving innovation through network application programming interfaces (APIs), leveraging AI in telecoms, and empowering through upskilling and reskilling.

Now, collaboration will be the cornerstone of industry success. A global initiative led by Ericsson and telecom operators aims to standardise network APIs, simplifying access to advanced network capabilities. This will enable seamless integration across service providers, fostering innovation and unlocking new possibilities.

Programmable networks powered by network APIs are already transforming applications like fraud detection, traffic management, and real-time analytics. These advancements are not only enhancing user experiences but also opening new monetisation avenues for telecom operators.

The presence of AI in our industry is growing by the day. AI is making significant inroads in areas like customer service, where AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are providing significant efficiency improvements in handling routine queries and freeing up human agents to focus on more complex issues.

According to an Ericsson ConsumerLab study on elevating 5G with differentiated connectivity, AI features are becoming a top priority for smartphone buyers, outranking traditional factors like camera quality, screen size and storage capacity. This shift underscores the growing importance of AI capabilities in shaping the smartphone experience, driving demand for higher performance from both devices and networks.

Generative AI applications are emerging as a key area driving expectations on 5G performance. The number of smartphone users using GenAI apps weekly, is expected to rise 2.5-fold in the next five years. As AI-powered applications become more prevalent, users’ expectations for enhanced connectivity are rising.

Service providers can expose network APIs to developers and can thereby tap into the consumer demand for high-performance apps. They can thus enable developers to offer premium, high-performance experiences and provide customers with tailored connectivity experiences.

The convergence of 5G, AI, and cloud computing offers transformative opportunities across sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and utilities. However, these advancements require a workforce equipped with the necessary skills. Governments, industries, and academia must collaborate to foster upskilling, reskilling, and a culture of lifelong learning.

By creating an ecosystem where talent and innovation flourishes, we can build a sustainable, inclusive digital future. 5G will pave the way for increased investments in smart manufacturing capabilities in Vietnam, supporting the government’s vision and focus on driving an increased and sustainable productivity growth rate of 7.5 per cent per year by 2030 and the digital economy contributing to 30 per cent of GDP by that year.

As we move forward, it is critical that we harness technology not just for progress but for empowerment. By fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and prioritising inclusion, we need to collectively build a connected future that uplifts communities, strengthens economies, and creates opportunities for all.

It’s time to unlock the potential of 5G for digital economy development in Vietnam In the next 5-10 years, we can imagine a very different future, a world where we will get coffee delivered by drone while we are on the way to work, where we can run global organisations from our own homes, and where plants will not die because they can tell their owners when they need water.

Automating ports with 5G There are around 2,000 ports in the world, and they’re vital for a well-functioning global economy. The shipping industry has experienced significant growth, but to accommodate future traffic, ports will need to become more efficient and automated.