Vietnam eyes 5G equipment sale to US
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Vietnam hopes to sell locally-made 5G equipment to the U.S. as it prepares the commercial launch of the telecom technology this year.
Information and Communications Minister Nguyen Manh Hung proposed to a delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives Monday that they initiate discussions of 5G technical standards to see if made-in-Vietnam equipment could enter the U.S. market.
Vietnam plans to commence commercial operations of 5G this year, becoming among the first countries in ASEAN to do so, he said.
The minister had set the stage for launching the new telecommunications technology by making the first 5G phone call on January 17, using equipment manufactured by Vietnamese telecom giant Viettel.
The military-run Viettel is set to become the sixth firm in the world to launch its own 5G equipment after Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and ZTE.
Viettel plans to commercially launch 5G services this June. It has been testing and installing equipment since last year.
Hung, a former Viettel CEO, has been pushing 5G research in Vietnam since taking over as communications minister towards the end of 2018. He asked local firms to produce their own equipment so that Vietnam is among the first countries in the world to launch 5G technology.
The number of 5G subscriptions in Vietnam could hit 6.3 million by 2025 or 6 percent of total mobile subscriptions, technology conglomerate Cisco has forecast.
In ASEAN, Singapore is expected to lead the way in launching 5G in 2020, followed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to U.S. consulting firm AT Kearney.
5G is said to offer speeds 100 times faster than 4G and support new applications like remote medical procedures and autonomous driving.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is Vietnam's aim regarding its locally-made 5G equipment?
What is Vietnam's aim regarding its locally-made 5G equipment?
Vietnam hopes to sell its locally-made 5G equipment to the U.S. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung proposed discussions on 5G technical standards to facilitate market entry, ahead of its own commercial launch this year.
Q.Which company manufactured the equipment used for Vietnam's first 5G phone call?
Which company manufactured the equipment used for Vietnam's first 5G phone call?
The first 5G phone call in Vietnam was made using equipment manufactured by Vietnamese telecom giant Viettel. This military-run firm is expected to be among a small number of companies globally to launch its own 5G equipment.
Q.When does Viettel plan to commercially launch 5G services?
When does Viettel plan to commercially launch 5G services?
Viettel plans to commercially launch its 5G services this June. The company has been actively involved in testing and installing necessary equipment since last year, preparing for the rollout.
Q.What is the forecast for 5G subscriptions in Vietnam by 2025?
What is the forecast for 5G subscriptions in Vietnam by 2025?
Technology conglomerate Cisco has forecast that the number of 5G subscriptions in Vietnam could reach 6.3 million by 2025. This would represent 6 percent of the country's total mobile subscriptions.
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