Vietnam’s telecom and pay-TV services market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5 percent between 2025 and 2030, driven by mobile data usage, 5G deployment and investment in fiber broadband, according to GlobalData. As operators phase out legacy voice services, the country’s telecom industry is increasingly shifting toward high-speed mobile connectivity, FTTH broadband and enterprise digital services.
Mobile Data Becomes Vietnam’s Fastest-Growing Telecom Revenue Stream
GlobalData forecasts Vietnam’s mobile data service revenue will grow at a CAGR of 8.2 percent from 2025 to 2030, supported by increasing mobile internet subscriptions, wider 4G adoption and nationwide 5G expansion. Growing consumption of video streaming, cloud applications and other bandwidth-intensive digital services is encouraging users to migrate to higher-value data plans, boosting mobile data ARPU.
In contrast, mobile voice revenue is expected to continue declining as operators bundle unlimited voice minutes into mobile plans while consumers increasingly rely on OTT messaging and calling platforms, resulting in lower voice ARPU.
Vietnam Nears 23 Million 5G Subscribers with 90 Percent Population Coverage
Vietnam has rapidly emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing 5G markets. According to the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority, the country had deployed nearly 40,000 5G base stations by February 2026, providing 90 percent population coverage and serving close to 23 million 5G subscribers.
The country also had 120 million mobile broadband subscribers served by five mobile network operators and six mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Average mobile download speeds reached 188 Mbps, reflecting the rapid rollout of high-capacity networks.
The Vietnamese government aims to achieve 100 percent 5G population coverage by 2030, enabling advanced applications such as smart manufacturing, intelligent transportation, smart ports, digital healthcare, private 5G networks and network slicing for enterprises.
Viettel Accelerates 5G-Advanced Rollout
Viettel continues to lead Vietnam’s 5G expansion with more than 30,000 5G base stations in operation, providing 90 percent outdoor coverage and 70 percent indoor coverage nationwide. The operator deployed 23,500 5G sites during 2025 alone.
Viettel plans to invest VND 43 trillion (US$1.7 billion) in 2025 to expand 5G infrastructure, AI, cloud computing, semiconductor research, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. The investment also supports nationwide 5G rollout, hyperscale data centers, submarine cable systems, and domestically developed 5G equipment.
In 2026, Viettel plans to install around 20,000 additional 5G base stations, targeting 98 percent population coverage, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The operator is also preparing to launch 5G-Advanced services using the 700 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum bands, delivering improved network performance, greater capacity and enhanced enterprise connectivity.
VNPT Expands 5G Coverage Across Industrial and Transport Hubs
State-owned operator VNPT is also accelerating 5G deployment using C-band spectrum alongside newly licensed 700 MHz frequencies.
Its 2026 rollout focuses on major cities, highways, industrial parks, seaports and airports. VNPT aims to achieve 50-60 percent population coverage with approximately 16,000 5G base stations, strengthening enterprise and consumer connectivity across Vietnam.
VNPT announced plans to invest around VND 33 trillion (US$1.3 billion) during 2025 to modernize its telecom infrastructure. The investment focuses on commercial 5G rollout, nationwide fiber broadband, cloud platforms, AI, cybersecurity, and digital government infrastructure. VNPT has also signed agreements with Huawei and ZTE to accelerate 5G deployment.
MobiFone has not publicly disclosed its total annual Capex budget. Reuters reported that MobiFone is preparing major tenders for thousands of 5G base stations as it expands nationwide coverage.
Fiber Broadband Drives Fixed-Line Growth
Vietnam’s fixed broadband market continues to benefit from aggressive fiber deployment. GlobalData expects fixed broadband service revenue to grow at a CAGR of 2.3 percent during 2025-2030, supported by rising FTTH adoption and ongoing fiber infrastructure investments.
By February 2026, Vietnam had approximately 25 million FTTH subscribers, while fiber networks covered 85 percent of households. Average fixed broadband download speeds reached 288 Mbps.
According to a May 2026 Vietnam News Agency report, 23.8 million households were connected through fiber-optic networks, with average broadband speeds remaining at 288 Mbps.
The expansion of FTTH infrastructure will support cloud computing, enterprise applications, ultra-high-definition video streaming and nationwide digital transformation initiatives.
Submarine Cable Investments Strengthen International Connectivity
Vietnam is also investing heavily in international telecom infrastructure. As of February 2026, the country participated in six submarine cable systems with a combined international capacity of approximately 80 Tbps.
Additional investments in submarine cable capacity are expected to improve international bandwidth, support growing cloud workloads and enhance connectivity for enterprise applications, digital platforms and hyperscale data centers.
2G Shutdown Accelerates Migration to 4G and 5G
Vietnam’s migration away from legacy 2G networks is expected to accelerate smartphone adoption and increase demand for mobile data services.
The retirement of older mobile technologies will enable operators to reallocate spectrum resources more efficiently toward 4G, 5G and future 5G-Advanced deployments while improving overall network performance and capacity.
Vietnam’s Telecom Industry Enters a Data-Driven Growth Phase
Vietnam’s projected 2.5 percent CAGR in telecom and pay-TV services revenue through 2030 reflects a fundamental transformation of the communications market. While traditional voice services continue to decline, mobile data revenue is forecast to expand at an 8.2 percent CAGR, and fixed broadband revenue is expected to grow at a 2.3 percent CAGR.
With nearly 23 million 5G subscribers, 40,000 5G base stations, 120 million mobile broadband users, 25 million FTTH subscribers, 85 percent household fiber coverage, 188 Mbps average mobile speeds, 288 Mbps fixed broadband speeds and 80 Tbps international submarine cable capacity, Vietnam has established one of the region’s strongest digital connectivity foundations.
For operators including Viettel and VNPT, future growth will increasingly depend on monetizing 5G, 5G-Advanced, fiber broadband, enterprise connectivity, private 5G, IoT, cloud services and digital platforms, positioning Vietnam as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-evolving telecom markets through 2030.
FASNA SHABEER