6th ASEAN 5G Conference: Vietnam affirms its pioneering role in creating a regional 5G - AI ecosystem

"5G and artificial intelligence (AI) are not only the foundation of digital transformation, but also the driving force for sustainable and inclusive development," Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy emphasized at the 6th ASEAN 5G Conference held on the afternoon of October 27, 2025, in Ninh Binh, within the framework of Vietnam International Digital Week 2025.

The conference is an important initiative, initiated and chaired by Vietnam since 2019 within the framework of ASEAN digital cooperation, to promote the development of 5G infrastructure and AI applications to serve the region's sustainable development goals; bringing together representatives of telecommunications management agencies of ASEAN countries, dialogue countries such as China, Japan, the United States and many international organizations, experts and leading technology enterprises in the world ; is an annual forum for parties to exchange policies, strategies and discuss the roadmap to build a unified and sustainable ASEAN digital ecosystem.

Delegates take souvenir photos.

5G and AI: Two parallel pillars of the digital age

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy emphasized that the theme of this year's Conference is "5G and AI: Together promoting sustainable, comprehensive and equitable digital transformation" which reflects the spirit of the times, when development must be associated with innovation, cooperation and social responsibility.

According to Deputy Minister Pham The Duy, 5G is not only a key infrastructure of the digital economy , but also an important driving force for AI development, creating conditions for AI to be deployed more widely thanks to its super-fast connection speed, extremely low latency and real-time data processing capabilities. In contrast, AI is the factor that helps optimize the 5G network, from traffic management, energy saving, demand forecasting, to improving operational efficiency and service quality. The two-way complementary relationship between 5G and AI is the key to opening up a smart and sustainable digital ecosystem, where technology better serves people and society.

Deputy Minister Pham The Duy said that in recent years, Vietnam has made continuous efforts to develop, test and commercialize 5G technology, while promoting AI research, application and governance. With the support of major technology corporations such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, and close cooperation in the ASEAN region, Vietnam is expected to lead the process of forming a dynamic and innovative 5G - AI ecosystem.

The Deputy Minister affirmed: "The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to continuing to accompany, support and promote international cooperation, actively contributing to the development of a dynamic, innovative and sustainable ASEAN digital community."

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy spoke at the Conference.

Strengthening public-private cooperation: Promoting 5G - AI to develop rapidly

Presenting on "Regional Cooperation on 5G: Standards and Policies in Asia-Pacific", APT Secretary General Masanori Kondo emphasized the vision of building an open, connected, innovative and sustainable digital region.

He pointed out four main challenges in 5G deployment: progress gaps between countries, commercialization difficulties, urban-rural digital divide and high spectrum costs. Accordingly, to unlock the potential of 5G and prepare for 6G/IMT-2030, APT called for enhanced policy cooperation, spectrum harmonization and promotion of international standards, towards comprehensive connectivity in the new era. At the same time, committed to promoting digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region, towards an open, connected, innovative, inclusive, secure and sustainable digital future for everyone.

APT Secretary General Masanori Kondo presented at the Conference.

Qualcomm representative, Ms. Nies Puwati, Director of Government Relations for Southeast Asia, shared the vision of "connected intelligent edge" - where AI processing moves to the network edge, creating a more flexible and efficient computing space.

According to Ms. Nies Puwati, global mobile data traffic will increase fourfold by 2030, with AI accounting for 33% of global WAN traffic. ITU-R predicts that 6G will open up completely new experiences, utilizing the entire frequency spectrum to serve global intelligent connectivity, applying native AI communication, extending to the THz band and integrating the physical - digital - virtual world.

Ms. Nies Puwati, Director of Government Relations for Southeast Asia, Qualcomm, presented at the Conference.

Mr. Le Van Tuan, Director of the Radio Frequency Department, shared his experience in planning and auctioning frequency bands for broadband mobile development - the foundation of AI and 5G applications in Vietnam.

According to the Director of the Radio Frequency Department, Vietnam's success is demonstrated by the leap in mobile Internet speed, thanks to the provision of sufficient spectrum (100 MHz mid-band and 700 MHz low-band), while maintaining spectrum costs at a reasonable level, accounting for only about 6% of network operator revenue. Vietnam implements Resolution 193 of the National Assembly, supporting 15% of equipment costs for telecommunications enterprises, aiming to cover 90% of the population with 5G by 2025.

The Director of the Radio Frequency Directorate recommended that ASEAN maintain spectrum costs at 5-7% of revenue, while preparing early for the IMT-2030/6G phase, especially in the 6425–7125 MHz frequency band.

Mr. Le Van Tuan, Director of the Radio Frequency Department, presented at the Conference.

From a business perspective, Mr. Pham Le Chung, Head of Digital Services at Ericsson Vietnam, said that network operators are shifting to the Open Gateway model, opening APIs for banks, fintechs and content platforms to develop value-added services. Successful examples such as Claro Brazil or Telefónica with TikTok and Banco Itaú show that 5G is not only a connectivity technology but also a new digital business platform, helping network operators transform into comprehensive digital service providers.

Mr. Pham Le Chung, Head of Digital Services, Ericsson Vietnam, presented at the Conference.

Nokia representative, Mr. Deepak Singh, Head of CSP Solutions for Asia-Pacific region, said that 5G is creating an "ARPU jump" (average revenue per user) thanks to superior data experience and flexible service package strategy.

According to Mr. Deepak Singh, AI will be the driving force for the next wave of data growth, when "Digital Twin" technology and machine learning algorithms help optimize network configuration, reduce interference, increase connection performance and save energy.

Mr. Deepak Singh also emphasized three messages: 5G has entered the effective commercialization stage; 5G SA and 5G Advanced will open up new revenue platforms and AI automation is the key to improving operational efficiency, optimizing costs and fully exploiting 5G potential.

Mr. Deepak Singh, Head of CSP Solutions Asia Pacific, Nokia presented at the Conference.

At the Conference, delegates focused on discussing in 3 key working sessions: Global and regional 5G - AI vision; Practical applications in healthcare, agriculture, transportation, smart cities; Dialogue on building a sustainable 5G ecosystem between management agencies, authorities and large technology enterprises such as Viettel, VNPT, Huawei.

The 6th ASEAN 5G Summit once again affirmed Vietnam's leading role in regional cooperation on 5G and AI, contributing to shaping a dynamic, innovative and sustainable ASEAN digital future. The parties agreed to continue harmonizing spectrum, synchronizing standards and expanding investment cooperation, towards a digital ecosystem where technology not only connects data, but also connects people and regional knowledge.

Overview of the Conference.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/hoi-nghi-asean-5g-lan-thu-6-viet-nam-khang-dinh-vai-tro-tien-phong-trong-kien-tao-he-sinh-thai-5g-ai-khu-vuc-197251027165448127.htm