Digital tech makes major breakthroughs as 5G covers 93.4% of population

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s science, technology, and digital transformation have achieved remarkable breakthroughs, with 5G networks covering 93.4% of the population, mobile internet speed surging to eighth globally, and digital technology revenue reaching US$254.6 billion during the ten-month period of 2026.

Reporting these milestones to the National Assembly on November 11, 2026, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan stated that nearly two years into implementing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57, the institutional framework has been rapidly overhauled.

The National Assembly passed 11 laws and a special resolution, Resolution 193, establishing a solid legal corridor for growth. Alongside institutional reform, state budget allocations for the sector expanded sharply, rising from VND75 trillion (approximately US$2.95 billion) in 2025 to VND95 trillion (US$3.74 billion) in 2026, with projections reaching VND120 trillion (US$4.72 billion) in 2027.

This increased funding has produced clear gains across global indexes. Vietnam’s Global Innovation Index (GII) rose to 43rd out of 139 countries, maintaining third place in ASEAN, while its global artificial intelligence index jumped 18 spots to rank 36th worldwide.

In strategic technologies, 11 national missions with a total budget of VND6.6 trillion (US$260 million), 71.8% from socialized capital, along with 11 joint Vietnam-Japan semiconductor research tasks worth nearly VND500 billion (US$19.7 million), have been approved. Domestic enterprises have gradually mastered core technologies, including 5G equipment, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), AI cameras, and vaccines.

Infrastructure expansion matched this momentum. Mobile internet speeds climbed 50 places to rank eighth worldwide, while 5G coverage reached 27.2 million subscribers (93.4% of the population).

Telecommunications coverage was completed for 483 low-signal villages and satellite internet activated in 196 remote areas, bringing basic telecommunications coverage to virtually 100% of villages nationwide and earning Vietnam the 2026 Government Leadership Award from the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).

In the digital technology industry, revenue in the January-October period of 2026 was estimated at US$254.6 billion, up 53%. Vietnam has also issued a list of 79 shared platforms, synchronized 70 out of 104 specialized databases and eight out of 12 critical databases with the National Data Center, and granted over 36 million digital certificates.

Despite these gains, the Minister candidly pointed out existing bottlenecks before the legislature. As of October 30, 2026, budget disbursement reached only 42.12% of the estimate. Commercializing research results and valuing state-funded intellectual property still face hurdles, while local-level data synchronization lags behind as communal officials juggle disparate software and citizens face redundant data-reporting procedures.

Capacities in AI verification, data protection, and countering fake content also demand urgent reinforcement. Concluding the report, the Minister affirmed that the ministry earnestly heeds the feedback of deputies and voters, with the consistent goal of turning the breakthroughs of Resolution 57 into real momentum for the country's rapid and sustainable development.

AI and 5G networks usher in new era for Vietnam’s digital economy

VOV.VN - A workshop themed “Empowering Digital Economy Growth in the New Era” took place in Hanoi on November 25, focusing on the role of AI and 5G integration in driving Vietnam’s next phase of digital economic expansion.