First standalone 5G network tested in Vietnam

The company announced on Monday that it completed the tests three months after receiving 5G frequency licenses from the Ministry of Information and Communications.

“This can be considered a major step toward the launch of 5G commercial services,” Viettel said in a statement, though it did not specify a launch date.

A standalone 5G network uses equipment built specifically for 5G services, while a non-standalone network utilizes existing 4G infrastructure. Standalone 5G equipment offers more services, flexibility, and scalability than 4G equipment, but it also comes at a higher cost.

By the end of the first quarter of this year, 58 countries had successfully tested standalone 5G networks, out of 175 countries that were testing or had commercialized 5G.

With standalone equipment, Viettel said it could offer both individual and business users enhanced services, such as calls with built-in translation and high-speed data transfer. The company added that standalone 5G could even replace fiber optic networks.

Viettel is currently working with major smartphone brands in Vietnam to upgrade the firmware of their products to support connections with the standalone 5G network.

In 2019, Viettel was also the first company in Vietnam to make a call using a non-standalone 5G network.

Vietnam plans to launch commercial 5G services this year. The three companies that have successfully acquired 5G frequencies are Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone.