This milestone helps expand application scenarios and diversify services on the 5G platform.
The speed breakthrough in Vietnam’s first 5G Advanced trial comes from carrier aggregation (CA) technology, which allows mobile devices to connect to multiple frequency bands simultaneously to exchange data, instead of relying on a single band as at present. During the tests, Viettel simultaneously aggregated the 2600 MHz band, C-Band, and mmWave to transmit data, delivering download speeds of more than 7.3 Gbps, far exceeding current 5G performance.
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Viettel announces the successful trial of its 5G Advanced mobile network with speeds exceeding 7.3 Gbps, six times faster than Vietnam’s current 5G SA. |
The research and trial activities were carried out by Viettel in collaboration with partners Ericsson and MediaTek starting in August 2025. Viettel engineers built a 5G Advanced network based on a 5G Core platform, combined with Ericsson’s multi-band 5G gNodeB base stations. The technology was tested on a dedicated user device using MediaTek’s M90 chipset, specifically designed for 5G Advanced trials. The device complies with 3GPP Release 17 and is aligned with the upcoming 5G Advanced R18 standard, which was introduced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025.
5G Advanced is considered a major upgrade of 5G and a key step toward the development of 6G mobile network. It is expected to fundamentally transform mobile users’ experience. Carrier aggregation on 5G Advanced not only enables faster connections, but also improves stability and reliability by combining the wide coverage of low-frequency bands with the high speeds of high-frequency bands, significantly reducing dropped connections.
A Viettel representative said that in 2026, Viettel will deploy 5G Advanced on the 700 MHz and 2600 MHz bands already licensed for 5G, which will increase speeds by 15%. 5G Advanced delivers particularly high value at festivals and large-scale events with dense crowds, where network congestion caused by limited resources can be eliminated. Viettel’s goal is to reach speeds of 10 Gbps by continuing research and development in carrier aggregation technologies.
According to Deputy General Director of Viettel Networks Hoang Binh Son, Viettel pro-actively researches and masters the latest technologies, keeping pace with the world and remaining ready for deployment in Vietnam. “At present, we are researching and testing new technologies and services on the 5G platform to expand application scenarios and diversify services for customers, turning telecommunications into a driving force for automation, smart industry, and high technology in Vietnam,” the official said.
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Speed performance of Viettel's 5G Advanced network |
Rita Mokbel, Chairwoman of Ericsson Vietnam, stated, “Built on the foundation of 5G, 5G Advanced delivers a stable and superior user experience in all conditions and everywhere, while also enabling network characteristics to be adjusted and optimized to achieve the expected operational efficiency. Ericsson will continue to cooperate closely and strategically with Viettel in developing 5G Advanced capabilities, aiming to build a smarter, more efficient, and more secure network infrastructure.”
Since officially announcing commercialization in October 2024, Viettel has remained the only mobile operator in Vietnam to deploy 5G SA in parallel with 5G NSA nationwide. In 2025, Viettel successfully won the auction for the 700 MHz band for 5G, the “golden frequency” for wide-area coverage. With 30,000 5G base stations as of December 2025, Viettel has achieved 5G coverage across 90% of outdoor areas and 70% of indoor areas nationwide.
The successful 5G Advanced trial enables Viettel to add the final piece to complete its 5G ecosystem, built on the country’s largest infrastructure and the latest technologies, delivering the best possible experience to customers.
Translated by Chung Anh