Viettel and Qualcomm launch Open RAN 5G network in Vietnam

Companies mount challenge to Huawei dominance with cheaper equipment

Open RAN technology allows for equipment from multiple companies to be combined in the same system. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)

YUJI NITTA, Nikkei staff writer

November 21, 2024 05:27 JST

HANOI -- Vietnamese state-owned telecommunications giant Viettel has developed Open RAN 5G base station equipment with U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm, looking to hone the technology at home and expand it into other emerging markets.

In conventional mobile networks, base stations typically contain equipment from a single company. The market has been dominated by Chinese company Huawei Technologies, Swedish telco Ericsson and Finnish company Nokia.