The Ministry of Science and Technology, representing the Vietnamese Government, received the 2026 GSMA Government Leadership Award from the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). The ceremony took place on October 28 at the opening of a ministerial roundtable on digital and artificial intelligence during Vietnam International Digital Week 2026 in Quang Ninh city.
The annual award goes to one country selected by an independent international panel involving representatives of the International Telecommunication Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the GSMA. It recognises governments with sustained policy leadership, strategic vision and a strong regulatory environment for mobile and digital development that turn plans into concrete action.
Vietnam was the only country to receive the award in 2026. Brazil won in 2025 for effective spectrum management and innovative telecommunications regulation. Trinidad and Tobago received the award in 2024, and India in 2023.
The award recognises Vietnam’s efforts to develop policy, improve institutions and build infrastructure for digital transformation. The 2023 Telecommunications Law and Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation established digital infrastructure as a foundation of the digital economy and society.
Julian Gorman, GSMA’s head for Asia-Pacific, said Vietnam was honoured for linking national ambitions with policy direction, implementation capacity and cooperation with industry. He also noted the country’s 5G development, support for network investment and people-centred approach.
According to the GSMA, Vietnam’s digital economy could account for 30% of GDP by 2030. Its Digital Nations 2026 report highlighted progress across infrastructure, innovation, data governance, cybersecurity and digital skills.
By 2026, Vietnam had installed more than 40,000 5G base stations covering about 92% of the population. According to i-Speed, mobile and 5G internet speeds exceeded 500 Mbps for the first time early in the year, while one operator reached 617 Mbps. The national average download speed remained above 437 Mbps.
According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Vietnam ranked eighth worldwide for mobile broadband speed in September 2026, with a median download speed of 230.31 Mbps. It ranked 10th in July and ninth in August. Hanoi entered the world’s top five cities for mobile network speeds.
Vietnam ranked seventh globally for fixed broadband speed in July at 307.11 Mbps. It placed eighth in August at 301.48 Mbps, more than twice the global average of 129.68 Mbps. In September, it remained among the world’s top 10 with 297.64 Mbps.
Vietnam is also working to eliminate mobile coverage gaps and expand broadband access. The completion of the 2G shutdown and implementation of the public telecommunications service programme under Decision No. 777/QD-TTg in 2026 provided a basis for extending connectivity to disadvantaged areas.
A 2026 campaign brought coverage to 1,856 locations, including 788 hamlets and villages and 1,068 residential clusters in remote, mountainous, border and island areas. Vietnam is also testing low-Earth orbit satellite internet where conventional networks are difficult to deploy.
Vietnam’s goal of giving 100% of its population access to digital services requires coordination between regulators and telecommunications operators. Infrastructure development must also be accompanied by stronger digital skills, information security and access to services that meet people’s practical needs.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
