Phone companies accelerate to popularise smartphones
OPPO Vietnam officially announced its cooperation with Son Tung M-TP to promote the Reno14 Series. This product line is expected to have two versions supporting super-fast 5G connection when launched in Vietnam. OPPO's Reno 14 Series will also be accompanied by Viettel, the largest 5G network operator in Vietnam.
Accordingly, customers will be given 30GB of high-speed data when owning this phone line. This is a promoted phone line capable of maximizing the power of the 5G network, bringing a complete experience with a series of powerful AI features.
Previously, Samsung also quickly joined Viettel in the "5G Technology Trips" program in 6 provinces in the Southwest. People can experience the super-fast speed of the 5G network, and use the new generation Galaxy A06 5G smartphone for only 3 million VND - a very affordable price for many users. This is also the first time Samsung has launched a 5G smartphone line at such a low price. This shows that 5G is no longer a technology exclusively for the high-end segment, but has targeted users from all walks of life.
With 5G smartphones starting at just 3 million VND, users no longer have to consider between "high price" and "new technology".In addition to reasonable packages from the network, cost barriers which are the biggest obstacle have almost been eliminated.Cooperation with major phone manufacturers is part of Viettel's nationwide 5G popularization strategy.
Explaining why 5G's 'wave' from luxury has become popular
The above moves from the terminal companies are not by chance. It comes from the convergence of two factors: the demand for 5G in Vietnam is increasing rapidly and the network infrastructure is ready.
It can be seen that a few years ago, 5G was a luxury feature only available on flagship lines. Currently, 5G connection has become the standard on most new smartphone models in all segments. This shows that consumers are prioritizing devices with available 5G to avoid being outdated, creating a truly mass market.
This demand is also driven by changes in consumption habits. Watching 4K/8K quality streaming videos, playing games on cloud gaming and livestreaming requires a connection with extremely large bandwidth and extremely low latency - advantages that only 5G can best meet.
In addition, the business sector is also promoting the application of 4.0 technology such as smart factories, IoT, automated logistics, creating a great demand for a stable wireless connection, even via phone. All of these factors, in conjunction with the Government's 5G promotion policy in the National Digital Transformation Strategy, have created a strong demand in the market.
The Government's report presented by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 5, at the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly, said that network operators have installed 10,600 5G receiving stations (BTS). One of the tasks is to strive to deploy at least 55,000 new 5G BTS stations by 2025.
Major network operators are determined to invest in 5G infrastructure. Leading this race is Viettel, with outstanding implementation speed and scale. After successfully auctioning the bandwidth in 2024, Viettel has quickly expanded coverage and become the first network operator to commercialize 5G in Vietnam. To date, the network has deployed more than 7,000 BTS stations, covering all provinces and cities, from industrial parks, tourist areas to seaports and airports.
Chairman and General Director of Viettel, Mr. Tao Duc Thang, affirmed the ambitious goal: in 2025, Viettel will complete 20,000 5G broadcasting stations, covering 95% of urban residential areas nationwide.
Other network operators such as VNPT and MobiFone are also actively participating, covering 5G in 34 provinces and cities, with plans to deploy thousands of new broadcasting stations.
The market is booming, 5G becomes an obvious choice
Infrastructure readiness is the most solid "launching pad". When the 5G network is widely covered with stable quality, users will have a real reason to upgrade their devices. This is the "golden time" that smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung and Oppo are aiming for.
Statistics have proven this trend. According to data from Counterpoint, in the first quarter of 2025 alone, 5G smartphones accounted for 46% of all smartphones sold in Vietnam - the highest level ever. This figure is expected to continue to increase sharply in the remaining quarters of the year, as network infrastructure is complete and low-cost 5G phones become more popular.
Subscriber data also shows a shift.
As of now, Viettel is leading with more than 8 million 5G users, followed by VNPT with 4 million and MobiFone with 2 million. In total, there are nearly 14 million 5G subscribers nationwide, a significant number showing that Vietnamese users are quickly embracing the new technology.
The combination of a pioneering infrastructure network like Viettel on one side and leading smartphone brands like Samsung and Oppo on the other is creating a "double boost". The network operator builds a 5G "highway", while manufacturers provide modern, affordable "vehicles" for people to experience that road. This is a close relationship, creating momentum to push the Vietnamese 5G market to explode.
