Vietnam raises base Internet speed to 300 Mbps, close to global leaders

On Thursday Viettel announced the upgrade to its lowest-tier plan following similar moves earlier by VNPT and FPT.

The new baseline speed is offered at no additional cost, with its VND180,000 (US$7) monthly plan now delivering double the previous speed of 120–150 Mbps. Higher-tier plans priced at VND250,000-300,000 now offer even faster connections of up to 1 Gbps.

To attract users, providers are offering added features.

Viettel is providing new users with free Wi-Fi 6 modems. VNPT is introducing XGSPON technology, which allows for data transmission of up to 10 Gbps in both directions over a single fiber-optic line. FPT is including cloud storage and home surveillance services in its packages.

According to February data from Ookla Speedtest, the global average fixed download speed was 98.31 Mbps.

Vietnam recorded 164.77 Mbps, while Singapore and the UAE led with speeds of 345 Mbps and 313 Mbps.

"A minimum of 300 Mbps is well above the global average and on par with five countries that have the world’s most advanced network infrastructure," a VNPT representative said.

"This reflects the rapid progress of Vietnam’s Internet capabilities, which are outpacing global trends."

A Viettel spokesperson said the upgrade strengthens Vietnam’s digital infrastructure and supports rising demand in the digital age. It also aligns with Resolution 57 of the Politburo, a national directive promoting breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, issued on Dec. 22, 2024.

While the upgrade enhances services for domestic users, Viettel is also strengthening Vietnam’s international Internet capacity through the Asia Direct Cable system.

The system, set to launch this year, will become Vietnam’s largest undersea cable route with a designed capacity of 20 Tbps, twice that of the current AAE-1 system.