Digitalizing cell towers

With just a single click, all information about a mobile base transceiver station (BTS), including the real-time status of its equipment, is displayed on an intuitive 4D map. Previously, before this simple click, engineers at Viettel Networks had to spend hours climbing high towers, surveying, and visually inspecting each site.

Periodic inspections of BTS towers and their installed equipment are essential for network optimization, as well as for adding or replacing components when needed. However, manual surveys are prone to errors, and operational risks are always present. Network failures or resource shortages are often only addressed reactively, rather than being anticipated and proactively mitigated.

The advent of 5G, which requires shorter wavelengths that are more easily obstructed by terrain, demands the installation of a higher number of BTS towers. As inspection needs increase, any inefficiencies in BTS deployment translate into additional costs and time delays. The traditional manual inspection process requires a significant workforce.

As telecom infrastructure expands, there is a pressing need for a technological solution that enables infrastructure management and scenario simulation to assess effectiveness before implementation.

Recognizing these challenges, Viettel’s Data Services and AI Center (Viettel AI) collaborated with Viettel Networks to develop BTS Digital Twins, a simulation system for infrastructure and asset management. It took six months to conceptualize and study the business requirements before the project was approved. Another six months were dedicated to technology research and product development before the BTS Digital Twins system entered its testing phase.

 Viettel Group's booth at MWC 2025

Although the project took just over a year to develop, mastering and optimizing core technologies, coordinating implementation, and evaluating test results posed significant challenges.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Product Director of Digital Twins at Viettel AI, stated: “The workload was immense, and we had to optimize every small step to achieve the final results. For instance, at one point, the direct evaluation results from Viettel Networks differed from the AI model’s computed data. However, as our AI model had undergone multiple refinements and yielded consistent accurate results, we suspected human measurement errors. Our hypothesis proved to be correct.”

Users have praised the BTS Digital Twins system for its benefits, with some joking that AI has “taken over” their high-risk jobs. “In the digital transformation process, manual tasks will be automated, reducing the need for human effort. However, employees will have opportunities to upgrade their skills and take on more creative and flexible roles. Not only is technology advancing, but people are also evolving,” shared engineer Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

Accuracy within 1cm and measurable benefits

In a report published at the end of 2024, Viettel Networks revealed that digitalizing network infrastructure had resulted in over 50% time savings and a 50% reduction in human resource usage compared to manual BTS tower inspections. Furthermore, risks were minimized thanks to technological intervention.

Currently, Viettel has full control over all four core technologies applied in the BTS Digital Twins system.

BTS Digital Twins leverages AI-powered 3D reconstruction technology to create high-resolution, highly accurate 3D replicas of BTS towers, with a deviation of no more than 1cm from real-world measurements. According to engineer Nguyen Ngoc Anh, achieving this precision required the development team to optimize computational models, design and test multiple flight survey procedures, and integrate GPS into drones. Continuous improvements are being made with the goal of further reducing this margin of error.

Additionally, the BTS Digital Twins system enables simulation-based scenarios for equipment replacement, new device installations, and compliance verification with network design standards, such as device spacing, antenna positioning, and angles. Real-time sensors on the towers also provide early warnings for irregularities.

With its cutting-edge capabilities, the full digitalization of Viettel’s 60,000 BTS towers is expected to mark a significant milestone in telecom network transformation, laying the foundation for broader Industry 4.0 applications.

At present, Viettel has mastered all four core technologies integrated into BTS Digital Twins: 3D Reconstruction (Generates highly accurate 3D models of BTS towers) using drone-captured images; WebGIS (Integrates geographical data for enhanced visualization); Web3D (Provides an intuitive 3D interface); Artificial Intelligence (Analyzes and evaluates data for predictive insights).

Bringing a “Made in Vietnam” solution to the global stage

BTS Digital Twins is one of Viettel’s flagship products showcased at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Competing on a global stage alongside industry giants, Viettel’s "Make by Viettel" technology solution stands out with its unique advantages.

“The greatest value of this product lies in its core technology. Mastering core technology allows us to customize solutions to meet the specific needs of customers. Furthermore, Viettel is among the few companies developing systems directly on client infrastructure rather than relying on external cloud services, ensuring maximum security,” explained engineer Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

Globally, telecom operators typically do not develop their own software solutions for network management. Before embarking on this project, Viettel had researched comparable global products but found that many were fragmented—offering separate solutions for surveying, optimization, and planning rather than an all-in-one solution.

Viettel’s unique insider perspective as a telecom provider allowed its AI team to rapidly research, test, and develop BTS Digital Twins with a minimal team, significantly reducing development costs while delivering a comprehensive and integrated infrastructure management solution.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh emphasized that participating in MWC 2025 is a key opportunity to showcase the product to potential partners and expand global connections. It also provides an opportunity to study competitors and refine the product’s future roadmap.

Furthermore, Viettel’s long-term AI vision has created an ideal environment for the BTS Digital Twins team and aligns with the company’s broader strategy of integrating AI into core business operations.

“AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with major breakthroughs happening every week. At Viettel, we are empowered to turn ideas into reality and operate in an ecosystem that fosters AI innovation. This accelerates our growth and expertise,” concluded Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Product Director of Digital Twins at Viettel AI.