2018 Vietnam - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Vietnam ranks 18th in BuddeComm's Asian Telecoms Maturity Index

Vietnam is ranked 18th with a Telecoms Maturity Index score of 33. Vietnam is also ranked 11th in the “Developing Nations” category out of 16 countries. (BuddeComm’s “Asian Telecoms Maturity Index”, is an index (on a scale between 0 and 100) that measures and ranks the relative maturity of the telecoms industry in all of the 34 countries in Asia.) Compared to other Asian nations, Vietnam has very low fixed line penetration, low fixed broadband penetration, high mobile penetration and low mobile broadband penetration.

After peaking in 2009 the fixed line market in Vietnam has seen a significant decline by 2017. Further declines are predicted over the next five years to 2022.

Growth has been flat in Vietnam’s mobile market over the past five years. Market growth has been restrained due to a mature and saturated market. Mobile subscriber growth is also expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2022, driven by growth in the mobile broadband market.

By 2017, all five major mobile operators had been issued 4G licenses, and by early 2018 4G rollouts were well underway. 4G access will open up many opportunities for rural residents to learn, consume entertainment, find jobs and generally narrow the gap between urban and rural areas.

The fixed broadband access has been built on the back of an extensive Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network, with the more recent focus being on fibre-based services. Subscriber growth in fibre continues to be strong.

Fixed broadband penetration in Vietnam remains low mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines and the dominance of the mobile platform. However the market has grown strongly over the past five years. Over the next five years to 2022 strong growth is expected to continue driven by rising fixed line penetration, in particular the rollout of fibre access.

The digital economy in Vietnam has been flourishing. With initiatives to promote e-commerce throughout the country. The government has been the driving force behind the country’s move into the age of the digital economy. It has been constantly emphasising the need to use e-commerce to improve the country’s economic competitiveness. The government has also been particularly active in the development of cyber laws, because of its deeply ingrained political culture of central control.

Key developments:

• The fixed line market in Vietnam has seen a significant decline over the past few years.
• MobiFone and VNPT were directed by the MIC to complete equitisation (a process by which its shares are sold) in 2018 and 2019.
• Viettel Global announced plans to expand its footprint to Indonesia and Nigeria.
• Vietnam has seen a very rapid increase in mobile broadband penetration over the past five years.
• VNPT-Vinaphone completed the conversion of its fixed network from copper to fibre-optic access.
• Fibre-based broadband (FttH) subscribers have been growing rapidly.
• Over the next five years to 2022 strong growth is expected to continue in the fixed broadband market.

Companies mentioned in this report:

VNPT; Vinaphone; Mobifone; Viettel; S-Fone; EVN Telecom; Vietnamobile, GMobile/GTel. KT; LG U+; SK Broadband; SK Telecom, Hanaro Telecom.