VinSmart to launch 5G smartphones next year
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Smartphone maker VinSmart says it will launch its first 5G smartphone next July, and use its own 5G stations and equipment.
“We have built a lab for researching and developing 5G smartphones and other 5G telecom equipment,” Ngo Hoang Anh, head of the company’s embedded software department, said at a forum Wednesday.
The company is also partnering with U.S. tech giants Cisco and Intel to develop the 5G technology, Anh said. In June, VinSmart signed partnerships with Japan’s Fujitsu and the U.S.’s Qualcomm to develop its 5G smartphones.
VinSmart has requested the Ministry of Information and Communications for bandwidth to test its 5G stations next August, he added.
Tech expert Pham Hong Phuoc said that VinSmart developing 5G services is a rational move, as the local market is set to see more 5G smartphones this year and the next, and Vietnam aims to commercialize 5G next year.
VinSmart’s announcement follows similar moves by telecom giant Viettel, which begun testing 5G broadcasting in September, and its competitor VNPT, which has announced plans to do so.
No 5G smartphone has been manufactured or officially distributed in Vietnam so far, instead, they are hand-carried on overseas flights.
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said last year that Vietnam should be one of the first countries in the world to launch 5G.
5G is said to offer speeds 100 times faster than 4G, primarily used for smartphones and other similar devices. 5G is also expected to support new applications like remote medical procedures and autonomous driving.
Questions & Answers
Q.When does VinSmart plan to release its first 5G smartphone?
When does VinSmart plan to release its first 5G smartphone?
VinSmart intends to launch its first 5G smartphone next July. This new device will also utilise the company's own 5G stations and equipment.
Q.Which companies are partnering with VinSmart on 5G development?
Which companies are partnering with VinSmart on 5G development?
VinSmart is collaborating with U.S. Tech giants Cisco and Intel to develop 5G technology. Also, they signed partnerships with Japan’s Fujitsu and the U.S.’s Qualcomm in June for 5G smartphone development.
Q.Is VinSmart the first Vietnamese company to develop 5G services?
Is VinSmart the first Vietnamese company to develop 5G services?
No, VinSmart's announcement follows similar initiatives. Telecom giant Viettel began testing 5G broadcasting in September, and competitor VNPT has also announced plans to do so.
Q.What is the broader aim for 5G commercialisation in Vietnam?
What is the broader aim for 5G commercialisation in Vietnam?
Vietnam aims to commercialise 5G next year, with the Minister of Information and Communications stating the country should be among the first globally to launch the technology. This is seen as a rational move given the local market trends.
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