All of Ho Chi Minh City’s 24 districts will have Internet of Things (IoT) broadcasting stations installed by the end of this month, making the city the first place in Vietnam to be fully covered with an IoT network.

IoT is a system of interrelated computing devices and machines with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

Connected devices, smart devices and others are embedded with electronic components, software, and sensors with computer network connection capability, making it possible for them to collect and transmit data.

According to domestic newspapers, Military telecom giant Viettel Group is set to announce the completion of IoT and 5G infrastructure helping Ho Chi Minh City become a smart city.

Around 1,000 Narrow Band – Internet of Things (NB-IoT) broadcasting stations have been activated, covering the whole city, the media reported.

NB-IoT technology is capable of disconnecting a device when it is inactive. Thus, the contact time of the terminal is extended to five years without the need for changing the battery.

Viettel is also accelerating the process of developing a platform using NB-IoT technology-related services for its customers.

It will perform services like smart parking, air quality monitoring, location tracking, and metering devices.

IoT boom

With IoT technology developing strongly, other provinces and cities in the country will also have full NB-IoT coverage soon.

Viettel was quoted on Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam (Vietnam Economic Times) as saying that after Ho Chi Minh City it would cover Hanoi. Nearly 500 NB-IoT broadcasting stations have been installed and activated in Cau Giay district and some suburban districts.

Viettel deputy director-general Tao Duc Thang said the company planned to take IoT technology to every province and city in the country.

“Successful deployment of NB-IoT is how we realise Viettel’s mission, demonstrating our commitment and effort to create a smarter society.”

Viettel is not the only company in the race to offer IoT technology to customers, with several service studying and developing infrastructure for it.

Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group is investing in IoT by developing a Smart Connected Platform, and hopes to serve customers in smart transportation, smart tourism and smart agriculture.

Talking about IoT trends, telecom experts say with industry 4.0, the concept of customers has been expanded from just people to things.

The number of customers would thus run into the billions and the demand for connecting is huge, they said.

There are various estimates, with one saying that by next year, globally, around 20 billion devices will be fitted with sensors and controllers via NB-IoT technology, accounting for 74 per cent of all devices.

By 2025 about 40 billion smart devices will be used in the world with a total of around 100 billion connections in sectors like transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and finance.

VIET NAM NEWS