Vietnam Ranks in Global Top 10 for Broadband Speeds, Fueling Digitalization Drive

Vietnam has entered the global top 10 for mobile and fixed broadband speeds, signaling a significant leap in its digital infrastructure development and a boost to its nationwide digitalization drive. The country's impressive performance in broadband speeds lays the groundwork for a wide array of new applications, including virtual reality in healthcare, education, and entertainment, as well as large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for smart cities, smart grids, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories. This advancement is seen as crucial as Vietnam looks towards the evolution from 5G to 6G. Economically, the digital technology sector is showing robust growth. Vietnam's export turnover of digital technology products reached US$20.3 million, marking a 39.6% increase. The sector also contributed VND44.5 trillion in after-tax profit and VND8.23 trillion to the state budget. Beyond domestic infrastructure, Vietnam is actively pursuing international cooperation in strategic technology areas. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung proposed expanding joint research programs with institutions like KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology) in fields such as semiconductor integrated circuits, AI, batteries, energy storage, and biotechnology. Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Nguyen Ky Son also held working sessions to strengthen cyber security cooperation. The digital transformation is creating new opportunities for businesses, household enterprises, and small traders by improving access to information, facilitating new payment methods, connecting with partners, and expanding market reach. This aligns with the Communist Party of Vietnam's strategy to shift towards a development model based on productivity, knowledge, and technology. Vietnam's strategy pivots towards AI research and development tied to economy-wide transformation, treating AI as a core capability rather than an add-on. This focus is essential for Vietnam's ambition to move from cost-based advantages to competitiveness based on productivity, technology, and added value. Science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are increasingly viewed as critical tools for addressing challenges in state management, production, business, and social life, with international collaboration playing a key role in achieving sustainable economic growth.