Vietnam has emerged as the strongest 5G market in the Mekong region, driven by aggressive spectrum allocation, standalone 5G deployment, large-scale fiber backhaul expansion, and rapid subscriber growth, according to the latest Q1 2026 analysis from Ookla. The report highlighted widening differences in infrastructure maturity, deployment strategy, spectrum utilization, network modernization, and investment intensity across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
Vietnam Delivers the Fastest 5G Performance in the Mekong Region
Vietnam recorded the strongest 5G performance among the Mekong countries analyzed, achieving a 7.02x improvement in 5G download speeds compared with 4G. Median 5G download speeds reached 392.70 Mbps during Q1 2026, positioning Vietnam second only to South Korea among selected regional markets for 5G performance.
The report attributed Vietnam’s strong 5G results to contiguous 100 MHz mid-band spectrum allocation, advanced C-band utilization, standalone 5G deployment, strong operator competition, and extensive fiber-connected mobile infrastructure.
Vietnam’s 2024 spectrum auction allocated contiguous 100 MHz spectrum blocks to operators, significantly improving throughput, spectral efficiency, and overall network capacity. Major operators including Viettel, VNPT, VinaPhone, and MobiFone have accelerated commercial 5G deployment across urban centers and major cities.
Ookla highlighted Vietnam’s focus on standalone 5G architecture, advanced spectrum strategies, urban network densification, high-capacity radio systems, and fiber backhaul integration as critical factors supporting its regional leadership.
Vietnam’s 5G Subscriber Base Nears 23 Million
Vietnam’s rapid infrastructure deployment is translating into strong consumer adoption and subscriber migration from 4G to 5G services.
Industry and government data referenced alongside the Ookla report showed Vietnam had nearly 23 million 5G subscribers as of February 2026. The country has deployed close to 40,000 5G base stations covering around 90 percent of the population.
Viettel currently operates more than 6,500 5G base stations and had approximately 5.5 million 5G subscribers by early 2026. The operator plans to expand its network to more than 20,000 5G stations while targeting coverage for over 90 percent of Vietnam’s population.
VinaPhone reached nearly four million 5G users within six months of commercial launch, while approximately 80 percent of its subscriber base already uses 5G-compatible devices.
The report indicated that improving handset availability, broader coverage expansion, and increasing standalone 5G deployment are accelerating the transition toward next-generation mobile connectivity across Vietnam.
Viettel Expands Standalone 5G Core Infrastructure
According to Ookla, Viettel deployed standalone 5G core technology as part of its commercial network modernization strategy.
Standalone architecture enables lower latency, improved scalability, higher network efficiency, and support for advanced 5G services compared with non-standalone deployments.
Vietnamese operators are also investing heavily in fiber backhaul infrastructure to improve transport capacity, data transmission speeds, urban traffic management, and overall user experience.
Ookla emphasized that mid-band spectrum, fiber transport infrastructure, standalone 5G core networks, and high-capacity radio architecture are becoming increasingly important for delivering premium 5G performance in dense urban environments.
VinaPhone Achieves Vietnam’s Highest 5G Download Speeds
Ookla’s operator-level comparison showed that VinaPhone maintained the highest 5G download speeds in Vietnam between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026.
VinaPhone recorded a median 5G download speed of 483.39 Mbps during Q1 2026 and achieved a peak median speed of 616.99 Mbps in Q2 2025.
The report noted that VinaPhone operates 100 MHz of C-band spectrum between 3.7 GHz and 3.8 GHz, while Viettel utilizes spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band.
Spectrum allocation differences significantly influenced throughput performance, download speed consistency, and network capacity. Ookla highlighted the growing importance of C-band spectrum in supporting high-speed mobile broadband and dense urban connectivity.
Cambodia Emerges as a Fast-Growing 5G Market
Cambodia has rapidly emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing new 5G markets after all three national operators launched commercial 5G services simultaneously on January 1, 2026.
Cambodia achieved a 7.29x uplift in 5G download speeds compared with 4G and recorded a median 5G download speed of 356.63 Mbps during Q1 2026.
Operators including Smart Axiata, Cellcard, and Metfone activated 100 MHz C-band allocations during the nationwide rollout.
Cambodia expanded its 5G infrastructure footprint to more than 1,500 sites by March 2026, reflecting aggressive urban network expansion and rapid commercial deployment.
Ookla noted that Cambodia’s simultaneous nationwide operator launch represented an operational innovation because all three national mobile operators introduced commercial 5G services at the same time rather than following a staggered rollout strategy.
Cambodian operators are continuing to increase investment in urban radio infrastructure, C-band spectrum deployment, network density expansion, and nationwide commercial coverage as competition intensifies in the country’s mobile broadband market.
FASNA SHABEER
