Viettel records breakthrough in first 5G Advanced trial
The Viettel Networks Corporation, a subsidiary of the Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), has reported the successful trial of its 5G Advanced mobile network, delivering download speeds of more than 7.3 Gbps, six times faster than those of Vietnam’s current 5G Standalone (5G SA).
The achievement, marked as Vietnam’s first 5G Advanced trial, was made possible by carrier aggregation (CA) technology, enabling mobile devices to operate across multiple frequency bands simultaneously instead of a single band. In its tests, Viettel concurrently connected the 2600 MHz, C-Band, and mmWave spectra.
The trial and research programme has been conducted since August 2025 in partnership with Ericsson and MediaTek.
Considered a significant enhancement of 5G and an important precursor to 6G, 5G Advanced is expected to reshape the mobile user experience. By aggregating multiple bands, the technology delivers not only faster speeds but also greater stability and reliability, combining the broad coverage of low frequencies with the high throughput of higher bands, minimising dropped connections and latency during video streaming or online gaming.
Hoang Binh Son, Deputy General Director of the Viettel Networks Corporation, said the firm is intensifying research and trials of new 5G-based technologies and services to broaden applications and diversify offerings, helping telecommunications catalyse automation, smart manufacturing, and high-tech development in Vietnam.
Viettel plans to roll out 5G Advanced in 2026 on the 700 MHz and 2600 MHz bands already licensed for 5G, with expected speed gains of about 15%. The technology is set to play a crucial role at festivals and large-scale gatherings by easing network congestion caused by limited resources. Viettel is also targeting speeds of up to 10 Gbps through the continued development of carrier aggregation solutions.
Since announcing 5G commercialisation in October 2024, Viettel has remained the only operator in Vietnam to deploy 5G SA alongside 5G Non-Standalone (5G NSA) nationwide. In 2025, it secured the 700 MHz band for 5G, widely regarded as the “golden frequency” for wide-area coverage. With 30,000 5G base stations in operation as of December 2025, Viettel’s 5G network now covers 90% of outdoor areas and 70% of indoor areas across the country.
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