To date, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has granted licenses to Viettel and the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to deploy a 5G network. This will stimulate the development of Vietnam’s digital infrastructure and serve demand for ultra-wideband in the future.

However, in the immediate time, telecom carriers still need to invest in 4G to improve service quality, because demand for 4G remains high and 4G services remain their major source of income.

5G in pipeline

MIC Minister Nguyen Manh Hung on April 15 granted a license to establish networks and provide terrestrial mobile information service using 5G technology to Viettel and VNPT.

MIC’s Authority of Telecommunications Nguyen Thanh Phuc said that, 15 years after the regulation on radio frequency auctions in the 2009 Law on Radio Frequency was released, for the first time MIC has successfully auctioned the right to use radio frequency for the 5G waveband.

The two auction winners were Viettel (2500-2600MHz) and Viettel (3700-3800MHz).

“With the successful auction, MIC has officially licensed the establishment of networks and terrestrial mobile information services using 5G technology starting April 11, 2024. Telecom carriers will soon commercialize 5G throughout the country in 2024, thereby forming a new infrastructure to promote the development of a digital economy, digital society and digital government in Vietnam,” Phuc said.

Viettel’s president Tao Duc Thang said Viettel will strengthen infrastructure for 4G while it will bring 5G service to clients soon in 2024.

For the network operator, the 2500-2600 MHz waveband has important significance because this is an effective frequency band to deploy both 4G and 5G networks.

The 5G equipment researched and developed by Viettel is ready for use on the 2500-2600MHz waveband.

To Dung Thai, president of VNPT, commented that 5G licensing is a step forward for telecom carriers to follow procedures to deploy services that satisfy clients’ requirements.

VNPT plans to upgrade its transmission system and build 1,000 5G stations in 2024. MobiFone said it wants to be licensed for 5G soon via auctions.

After the Authority of Radio Frequency reports to MIC’s leaders about the organization of an auction for the 3800-3900MHz again, and only one business attends the auction, the waveband may be sold to the business under current laws.

Marching towards 5G 

When granting licenses to auction winners, Hung said that by 2030, the major capacity would still be 4G and will not be until 2029 that 5G capacity and subscribers can exceed 4G. He asked telecom carriers to continue to pay attention to improving 4G service quality.

MIC is also considering organizing bids for 700MHz waveband for 4G deployment.

Hung has instructed MIC authorities to measure and publicize the quality of mobile services in the media, so that telecom carriers have to make every effort to ensure the quality of their services.

A senior executive of Ericsson said deploying 5G is just like 2G, 3G and 4G deployment.

Thai Khang