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Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that Vietnam develops 5G technology based on the Open RAN open standard. Vietnam's 5G network will also use open standards. Photo: VT

Network operators say the goal of Open RAN is to create conditions for many partners to participate in the research and production of 5G telecommunications equipment - a playground that previously belonged to only a few manufacturers in the world.

Previously, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said that countries can only have digital trust when the technology they use is open technology. Open technology is so that countries can master the technology they use. Currently, many countries have declared that they will only buy technology when the technology is open, especially when that technology is used to build national infrastructure.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that Vietnam develops 5G technology based on the Open RAN open standard. Vietnam's 5G network will also use open standards.

“For a country like Vietnam, if we want to go ahead, we have to stand on the shoulders of others. Choosing to develop open technology, choosing to develop open source software, choosing to open data for individuals and businesses to participate in creating new values ​​is our orientation. With this orientation, Vietnam will develop into a technological nation, based on and inheriting human knowledge but also contributing to human knowledge,” said Minister Nguyen Manh Hung.

Sharing about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy General Director of Viettel High Tech, said that Viettel High Tech and strategic partner Qualcomm have mastered Open RAN technology and are ready to commercialize 5G gNodeB base station equipment, based on an advanced chipset platform from Qualcomm.

“Telecommunications networks are the lifeblood of the national digital infrastructure. Self-reliance in technology and production of telecommunications infrastructure equipment is not only a task but also a mission of Viettel, taking Vietnam further in the national strategy of “Make in Viet Nam”. Before the Open RAN project with Qualcomm, Viettel had developed and mastered the system of 4G and 5G base stations, successfully deployed on its network. These are solid steps to help Viettel realize its vision of mastering technology, laying the foundation for the national telecommunications industry,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Quang.

Mr. Quang added that in the Open RAN trend, Viettel and Qualcomm have cooperated to develop 5G Open RAN equipment, helping to expand telecommunications networks with high customization, flexible integration, and ensuring international standards. Viettel has the strength of mastering the system and quickly deploying solutions on its own network, while Qualcomm has experience in optimizing radio chipset platforms. This cooperation is not only strategic but also demonstrates a common determination, as our 5G base station products are ready for commercialization, opening a new chapter in the telecommunications industry not only in Vietnam but also in international markets.

“We hope that the first 5G Open RAN Connect event in Vietnam will be a big step forward, creating conditions for experts from Viettel, Qualcomm, and global partners to connect, cooperate and share the most advanced knowledge about the Open RAN trend,” said Mr. Quang.

Sharing about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nghia, Director of the Department of Information Technology Industry (Ministry of Information and Communications), said that in 1999, only 2% of Vietnam's population had mobile devices, but now 98% of the population has mobile devices and the coverage level is up to 99%.

Mr. Nguyen Thien Nghia said that the 5G equipment market is currently in the hands of 3 large equipment suppliers, so it is difficult for new businesses to participate in this market. However, with Open Ran, the ecosystem of a single partner will be reduced, ensuring flexibility for the network operator. The cooperation between Viettel and Qualcomm contributes positively to this ecosystem.

Speaking about the cooperation between Viettel and Qualcomm to promote Open RAN, Ms. Lynne Gadkowski, Economic Counselor, US Embassy in Vietnam, said that Open Ran is being supported by many governments. Viettel and Qualcomm will contribute a lot to the technology journey in the telecommunications sector. In 2025, Vietnam - US will celebrate their cooperation and this cooperation event will bring advanced technology and open up opportunities to help Vietnam move forward in digital transformation. Currently, there are 25,000 Open Ran devices deployed by Viettel to supply the Vietnamese market and the world market, enhancing Vietnam's reputation in manufacturing 5G telecommunications equipment.

Ms. Lynne Gadkowski believes that 5G networks need to promote coverage and cost efficiency, opening up the development of smart cities, healthcare, education, etc. 5G will be developed and widely present in Vietnam. We have had two decades of cooperation between Viettel and Qualcomm and will promote the cooperative relationship between the two countries, together promoting a sustainable and adaptive digital future.

Referring to this issue, Ms. Jeanette Whyte, Director of Policy of GSMA in Asia Pacific also affirmed that more and more network operators are deploying Open Ran, this will be a trend in the world. Open Ran helps countries and network operators transform their networks. This technology separates hardware and software to help network operators flexibly choose partners and reduce investment costs.

However, Open Ran also faces barriers such as reliability, system integration, network quality, etc., but countries are working together to remove these obstacles. In addition, to promote Open Ran, legal support from countries is needed.