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Mr. Tao Duc Thang, Chairman of Viettel, spoke at the 6th National Forum on Vietnamese Digital Technology Enterprises. Photo: Hoang Ha

Why did Viettel jump into the field of research and technology mastery?

Opening his speech at the 6th National Forum on Vietnamese Digital Technology Enterprises on January 15, 2025, Mr. Tao Duc Thang, Chairman of Viettel, gave the reasons and vision of Viettel to master technology from the early days of telecommunications service business.

“Right after successfully pioneering the popularization of mobile telecommunications services in Vietnam and starting to invest in international markets, in the early 2010s, Viettel built a strategy to master the research, design, and production of telecommunications and information technology equipment, both to deploy network infrastructure and to export to the markets we invest in. This is an important breakthrough for the Group, aiming to provide reliable network infrastructure equipment to ensure information security, data security, and system security, one of the vital factors of digital transformation,” said Mr. Tao Duc Thang.

Another reason given by Viettel's chairman is to ensure the progress of goods supply, network infrastructure deployment, and service provision time for customers, reducing dependence on external suppliers.

Finally, master the system and equipment, proactively respond to information in case of incidents and move towards commercialization and export of high-tech products, enhancing Vietnam's position in the global technology value chain.

Viettel will research 5G Advanced and 6G

In his speech, Mr. Tao Duc Thang affirmed that the Digital Infrastructure Strategy to 2025 with a vision to 2030 determines that by 2030, 5G networks must be deployed widely, ensuring 5G coverage to 99% of the population. Therefore, since 2018, the Group has started researching 5G technology, and now has completely mastered the 5G product ecosystem from core network equipment, transmission, network equipment, radio equipment, terminals, with quality equivalent to world suppliers.

Viettel's Chairman said that, up to now, products in the 5G ecosystem are being used in most of the markets that Viettel has invested in and have initially been exported to some countries such as India and the UAE. In addition, Viettel's telecommunications equipment has also been deployed in university labs such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology and the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications, contributing to enhancing teaching aids for lecturers and teachers in the school.

“In the coming time, Viettel will continue to research and develop next-generation telecommunications network technologies such as 5G Advanced to improve speed, expand application capabilities in areas such as industrial automation and augmented reality; At the same time, participate in the 6G technology research and development working group under the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications,” Mr. Tao Duc Thang shared.

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Products in Viettel's 5G ecosystem are being used in most markets that Viettel invests in and are initially exported to some countries such as India and the UAE. Photo: VT

Viettel makes 3 recommendations to create a breakthrough

Viettel Chairman shared that Resolution 57 has set out clear goals and comprehensive implementation solutions, with breakthrough policies to remove the "bottlenecks of bottlenecks" that have limited the development of science and technology and innovation in recent times, such as a pilot mechanism for enterprises to test new technologies; a special mechanism for researching, accessing, and purchasing advanced foreign technology secrets; a special mechanism to attract talents to work in Vietnam; and the establishment of a strategic industrial development investment fund.

From his perspective, Mr. Tao Duc Thang believes that in order for technology enterprises in Vietnam to actively contribute to the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution 57, breakthrough policies are needed.

Viettel's Chairman suggested that it is necessary to soon issue guidelines for the formation of venture capital funds and evaluation mechanisms so that enterprises can boldly invest in and develop new technologies. Resolution 57 has set out the tasks and solutions: "Have an open approach, apply creativity, allow piloting for new practical problems. Accept risks, venture investment and delays in scientific research, technology development, and innovation". This is a breakthrough policy for state-owned enterprises such as Viettel to boldly invest in experimental research, master and apply new technologies, new business models with high risks, low success rates, but if successful, will bring great profits, creating a breakthrough for the enterprise.

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Viettel invests in the first Logistics Park in Vietnam. Photo: TK

“Viettel recommends that the State soon issue specific guidelines to form venture capital funds in enterprises according to the provisions of law; Guidelines for evaluating the results of testing new technologies and business models not only based on financial efficiency. We believe that whether the research results are successful or not, they will bring valuable lessons for us to quickly achieve success in the future,” said Mr. Tao Duc Thang.

Mr. Tao Duc Thang proposed and implemented a solution to form a strategic industrial development investment fund. Resolution 57 also mentioned a solution to form a strategic industrial development investment fund to promote research, development, application, and transfer of strategic technologies.

Viettel representative suggested that the State should soon establish and guide the use of this fund so that enterprises have more resources, promptly implement the tasks set out in national strategies, focus on technology research projects that play a fundamental and comprehensive role such as semiconductor technology, low-altitude satellites, dual-use defense industry... avoid spreading out the allocation, reducing investment efficiency.

Finally, Mr. Tao Duc Thang proposed to develop a policy to encourage and prioritize the use of Made in Vietnam products. Viettel cited that one of the solutions in Resolution 57 to promote domestic production is a mechanism to encourage the purchase of products and goods that are the results of scientific research created by domestic enterprises. This is one of the "bottlenecks" that need to be removed to promote domestic research.

“Currently, domestic enterprises have produced many high-tech products with quality equivalent to that of major manufacturers in the world. However, their prices cannot compete with those of foreign enterprises because they have a long-standing market, advantages in scale and flexible policies in research and technology. Therefore, we propose that the State soon issue specific regulations to encourage the purchase and use of technology products produced by domestic enterprises,” said Mr. Tao Duc Thang.