Vietnam ranks 57th in GCI 2019, a move up from 60th last year.
Vietnam is still in the early stages of ICT infrastructure development. It scores below the global
average on most indicators. The growth of more online content could accelerate development. The
Internet is commonly used in Vietnam for basic needs such as business emails and online searches by
consumers. The lack of content in Vietnamese and fragmented information sources are hindering this
country as it tries to take the next step up. Compared with previous years, Vietnam's fixed-line and
mobile broadband penetration have both grown, along with smartphone penetration.
Viettel Group, Vietnam's largest mobile carrier, plans to launch ultrafast 5G networks in 2021, a
move expected to support self-driving cars and other cutting-edge services that depend on nearly
instantaneous data communication. Rival mobile service providers like MobiFone and Vinaphone are
expected to launch 5G around the same time. This would make Vietnam an early adopter of the advanced
standard. The country was one of the last of Southeast Asia's larger economies to roll out 4G.
Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications is encouraging the development of broadband
infrastructure. This involves fast completion of 4G network coverage and the early rollout of 5G to
enhance the performance of the Internet of Things (IoT).