Resolution No. 193: Breakthrough mechanism to modernize telecommunications infrastructure

Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 issued by the National Assembly is a step to institutionalize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

This is an outstanding legal corridor with a clear pilot scope, specific mechanisms, and high flexibility, allowing for shortening procedures, enhancing decentralization, empowering, and encouraging the initiative and creativity of agencies, organizations, businesses, and intellectuals.

In the telecommunications sector, Resolution No. 193 is considered the foundation for creating historic changes in the digital age: supporting businesses with funding for 5G development; piloting controlled testing of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology and developing submarine optical cables.

Specify the mechanism

To detail and guide the implementation of Resolution No. 193, the Government issued Decree No. 88/2025/ND-CP dated April 13, 2025.

In the telecommunications sector, the Decree stipulates the conditions and basis for financial support for telecommunications enterprises to quickly deploy 5G network infrastructure; determines the average equipment cost for a 5G broadcasting station purchased in 2025 by supported telecommunications enterprises; prepares estimates, implements estimates, and settles financial support costs for enterprises to quickly deploy 5G infrastructure. Along with that is the responsibility to inspect, supervise, and handle cost reimbursement for enterprises in requesting financial support.

To implement the Decree, the Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a document to mobile telecommunications enterprises requesting them to develop a plan and estimate the budget to support the rapid deployment of 5G network infrastructure according to regulations.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a document directing and urging VNPT Group to proactively research and balance the use of enterprise capital to prioritize and implement the 5G network development plan in accordance with the Government's orientation, ensuring consistency with the industry and sector development strategy and the country's socio-economic development context in the new period.

According to Resolution No. 193, the controlled pilot of telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology is considered a strategic step to modernize telecommunications infrastructure, improve connectivity in hard-to-reach areas, where there is limited development of terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, and promote Vietnam's position in the global technology wave. The pilot will be implemented for a period of no more than 5 years, ending before January 1, 2031. The pilot is based on the principle of ensuring national defense and security, in which there is no limit on the percentage of shares, capital contributions, or contribution ratios of foreign investors.

After being officially licensed, VNPT Group has urgently deployed the installation of VinaPhone 5G infrastructure and transmission stations nationwide. (Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA)

Decree No. 88/2025/ND-CP stipulates specific principles for enterprises that are allowed to pilot controlled telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology. The regulations include licensing and application dossiers for granting, amending, and supplementing the contents of licenses for using radio frequencies and equipment; procedures for handling applications for granting, amending, and supplementing the contents of licenses for using radio frequencies and equipment; revoking licenses for using radio frequencies and equipment; and fees for using radio frequencies.

Based on the consideration of the Project to invest in and provide Starlink satellite Internet services in Vietnam by SpaceX Corporation, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 659/QD-TTg dated March 23, 2025 allowing SpaceX Corporation to pilot the deployment of low-orbit satellite telecommunications services without limiting the foreign investment ratio. The decision contributes to expanding broadband Internet coverage to remote areas with limited access to ground infrastructure; developing new connection services on aircraft and ships (supporting the aviation and maritime industries) and the potential to attract foreign investment (a commitment of 1.4 billion USD from SpaceX) in equipment manufacturing in Vietnam, creating more jobs in the country.

Pursuant to the provisions of Resolution No. 193, telecommunications enterprises have proactively deployed international submarine optical cable lines applying the prescribed procedures for investment projects in Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the law on investment and meeting the requirements of ensuring national defense and security.

Initial results

With the ability to provide ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency and support large concurrent connections, 5G network is not only an upgrade in data transmission speed but also a driving force for the development of many fields such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, while opening up huge opportunities for successful implementation of national digital transformation.

According to Mr. Le Thai Hoa, Deputy Director of the Radio Frequency Department (Ministry of Science and Technology), deploying and developing the 5G network in Vietnam not only brings technological benefits but is also an important driving force to promote sustainable economic growth, enhance national competitiveness and support the industrialization and modernization process.

Accompanying telecommunications enterprises, Resolution No. 193 stipulates support for network operators to invest in 5G infrastructure. The Government will support up to 15% of the total investment value if enterprises deploy at least 20,000 broadcasting stations in 2025. Not missing this opportunity, network operators have quickly joined the 5G "race".

To date, the Ministry of Science and Technology has received the implementation plan and budget estimates from Viettel Group and VNPT Group. The Ministry is reviewing, appraising, and synthesizing the budget estimates for financial support for businesses to quickly deploy 5G infrastructure to send to the Ministry of Finance.

According to the Radio Frequency Department, Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone have deployed more than 11,000 5G stations in 100% of provinces and cities nationwide and covered nearly 26% of the population with 5G. According to the 5G deployment plan of the network operators, it is expected that by the end of 2025, the number of 5G stations nationwide will reach about 68,000 stations, covering up to 90% of the population.

Viettel Group aims to have more than 22,000 5G stations installed, integrated and broadcast before December 31, 2025, with a cumulative total of 29,000 5G stations. Viettel has urgently reported to the Ministry of National Defense and carried out bidding procedures.

In August 2025, the most modern 5G equipment - one of the first shipments for Viettel's 5G network expansion plan in 2025 - arrived in Vietnam in time to serve the A80 mission.

According to Mr. Do Ngoc Phuong, Director of Technical Center Region 1 of Viettel Network Corporation, after completing the A80 task, nearly 1,000 temporary 5G broadcasting stations were recovered to be installed on the network to expand coverage.

5G broadcasting station in Phan Rang-Thap Cham. (Photo: Nguyen Thanh/VNA)

VNPT has covered 5G coverage in all central areas of provinces, cities and important areas such as industrial parks, airports, and political centers. VNPT also promotes cooperation in sharing 4G and 5G infrastructure with other network operators to reduce costs and expand coverage.

MobiFone focuses on 5G coverage in the centers of major provinces and cities; accelerates 5G deployment in key areas, especially Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to deploy 10,000 new transmission stations, expanding 5G coverage to 100% of communes nationwide.

Currently, SpaceX Corporation has completed business registration procedures, business establishment procedures in Vietnam and is completing documents to submit to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a license to provide telecommunications services.

Possessing a robust and autonomous submarine cable system is a key factor in protecting national data security. Submarine cables help Vietnam reduce its dependence on foreign-controlled infrastructure, thereby enhancing its ability to respond to risks such as connection interruptions or cyber attacks, ensuring national defense, financial and citizen information security.

Resolution No. 193 stipulates that investment projects on international telecommunications cable lines connecting at sea with landing stations in Vietnam are allowed to pilot the application of procedures and regulations for investment projects in Vietnam, and at the same time allows the appointment of contractors to implement bidding packages of the project in the period 2025-2030.

According to the report of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam-Singapore direct cable line (VT5S) invested by Viettel Group is coordinating with partners to build bidding documents, criteria for evaluating and selecting contractors, project plans, and project investment approval documents according to regulations. Viettel's goal is to sign a contract in the first quarter of 2026 and is expected to accept and put into operation in 2028-2029.

The SJC2 submarine cable line (VNPT Group contributed capital) was completed, accepted and put into operation and use from July 16, 2025 with a design capacity of 20Tbps, connecting to Hong Kong (China), Singapore, and Japan.

The ADC submarine cable line (Viettel Group contributed capital) was put into operation and use from April 16, 2025 with a design capacity of 20Tbps, connecting to Hong Kong (China), Singapore, and Japan.

Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation is the legal basis for unlocking resources for the science and technology sector, including the telecommunications sector. This is an important foundation to mobilize and effectively use domestic and international resources, promote the formation of new models, new products and new services, contribute to improving national competitiveness, and create a strong shift in socio-economic development towards sustainability and deep integration./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nghi-quyet-so-193-co-che-dot-pha-hien-dai-hoa-ha-tang-vien-thong-post1069153.vnp