Vietnam grants 4G licenses to three cellcos
In this article (5)
Vietnam has granted 4G licenses to three of the market’s major mobile operators – MobiFone, military-run Viettel and state-owned VNPT.
The operators have been granted permission to roll out LTE services over the 1800-MHz band.
Each of the three operators have been piloting LTE and LTE-Advanced services in multiple cities, with Viettel launching a trial in late 2015, VNPT testing services since January this year and MobiFone commencing a pilot in July.
The licenses will be allocated as part of Vietnam’s government-approved telecommunications development plan, which includes a target of covering 95% of the population with 3G and 4G services by 2020 as part of efforts to ensure nationwide coverage of broadband infrastructure.
According to the report, major operators have indicated they will be ready to launch LTE soon after receiving the licenses. They will be valid until 2024.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which mobile operators have received 4G licenses in Vietnam?
Which mobile operators have received 4G licenses in Vietnam?
The Vietnamese government has granted 4G licenses to three major mobile operators: MobiFone, Viettel, and VNPT. These companies are now permitted to roll out LTE services.
Q.What frequency band will the operators use for their new 4G services?
What frequency band will the operators use for their new 4G services?
The three operators have been granted permission to deploy their new LTE services using the 1800-MHz band. This frequency is standard for rolling out 4G networks.
Q.When do these 4G licenses expire?
When do these 4G licenses expire?
The 4G licenses granted to MobiFone, Viettel, and VNPT are valid until 2024. This gives the operators several years to develop and expand their services.
Q.What is the government's broader telecommunications goal related to these licenses?
What is the government's broader telecommunications goal related to these licenses?
The licenses are part of a government plan aiming for 95% population coverage with 3G and 4G services by 2020. This is to ensure nationwide broadband infrastructure availability.
Reader pulse
What will 4G license allocation mean for Vietnam's retail sector?
17,065 votes so far