Viettel has launched its 5G network in Vietnam, becoming the first carrier in the country to do so.

The company has launched a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network, meaning the network is not reliant on older technologies such as 4G LTE.

According to the telco, its 5G SA service will provide services that are ten times faster than its 4G network.

The launch of its 5G SA network comes a month after Nokia secured a contract to support the network carrier's 5G rollout.

Viettel has been testing 5G since 2019 but only gained its 5G spectrum license from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) in March after it won the first round of an auction for the 2,500-2,600 MHz band.

“Over 6,000 5G transmission stations have been launched just six months after receiving the license, reflecting Viettel's great effort and determination to keep Vietnam among the leading countries in the world for 5G commercialization," said Tao Duc Thang, chairman of Viettel, as reported by Vietnamnet.

"5G facilitates the development of various economic sectors, transforming industries such as manufacturing, education, healthcare, and logistics, thereby enhancing Viettel's growth space and increasing Vietnam's competitiveness on the international stage."

Last week, Vietnam revealed that its 4G network has reached 95 percent of the population's coverage, while it also completed the switch off of its 2G mobile network.