The Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) officially launched the 5G network for commercial service on October 15, becoming the first mobile operator to provide the service in Vietnam.

The group has installed over 6,500 base transceiver stations (BTS) nationwide to provide 5G services to all 63 localities in Vietnam, focusing in particular on tourism sites, seaports, airports, industrial parks, hospitals, and schools.

The 5G network’s connection speed can reach 1 Gbps, 10-fold that of 4G, with nearly zero ping. Viettel is deploying the service on both non-stand-alone (NSA) and stand-alone (SA) platforms.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Major General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and General Director of Viettel, said that the deployment of thousands of 5G base stations within six months since it received the license demonstrates the group’s great efforts and determination to keep Vietnam among the countries taking the lead in 5G commercialization.