Hanoi, Vietnam — Industry experts are calling on Vietnam’s government to release the remaining 180 MHz of the C-band spectrum to accelerate 5G deployment and elevate the country’s mobile internet speeds to match leaders such as South Korea, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Currently, Vietnam’s average 5G speeds range between 150–200 Mbps, ranking it 16th globally according to Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence (August 2025). However, achieving 400–600 Mbps — the benchmark in advanced 5G nations — will require expanding spectrum access beyond the current allocations.
In 2024, Vietnam licensed 100 MHz of the 2600 MHz band to Viettel, and 200 MHz of C-band spectrum (3700–3900 MHz) to VNPT and MobiFone, marking the country’s first major step toward nationwide 5G. Despite this progress, analysts warn that limited spectrum capacity remains a major barrier to achieving top-tier 5G performance.
The unutilized 180 MHz of C-band (3600–3700 MHz and 3900–3980 MHz) is now seen as the key to unlocking Vietnam’s 5G potential. Activating this frequency would double network bandwidth, allowing users to experience up to 2x faster download and upload speeds, enhanced stability, and minimal latency — critical for real-time applications like AI, IoT, smart manufacturing, and autonomous transport.
Experts highlight that countries leading in 5G innovation, including the U.S., South Korea, and Gulf states, typically allocate 200 MHz or more per operator. Without similar allocations, Vietnam risks lagging behind in the global race for digital competitiveness.
Beyond individual benefits, expanded spectrum access would empower carriers to deploy network slicing, support Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for homes and businesses, and enable private 5G networks for factories, ports, and smart cities. Analysts argue that such infrastructure would significantly boost GDP growth, attract foreign investment, and reinforce Vietnam’s ambition to become a prosperous digital economy.
As data demand surges and digital transformation accelerates, experts stress that expanding the 5G spectrum is no longer a technical upgrade — it is a strategic economic necessity for Vietnam’s future.
