VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communication says that the investment costs for the new technology will make the cost of services increase, which is unsuitable for Vietnamese people’s living standards at present.



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Photo: 4G is currently in the testing phase and it will be available in Vietnam in 2015.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, about 30 countries in the world have provided the 4G services, including some neighboring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and China recently. The 4G network in ideal conditions can reach the maximum speed of 1Gbkps for static and 100Mbkps for moving users.

Mr. Pham Hong Hai, head of the Telecommunications Department, says that some businesses have asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to license the 4G services and implement this service before the government’s plan (2015).

However, Minister Nguyen Bac Son confirms that the 4G services in Vietnam should follow the roadmap, as early as 2015.

Moreover, the 3G network capacity has not been fully exploited so speeding up the 4G process is wasteful, Son adds.

"The government invested $2 billion in the 3G infrastructure and the people also have to spend a lot of money to buy compatible devices but this network has not been fully used. Investment in the 4G network can cost billions of USD for the state and the people," Son says.

He also says that Vietnam should not invest in this network because the technology is new and incomplete, while the prices are high. However, the Ministry has licensed a number of telecommunication firms to test 4G networks.

"At the appropriate time, the Ministry will auction the 4G spectrum as like the 3G before, not directly licensing any firm," Minister Son says.

In 2009, the Ministry had issued four licenses to provide the 3G services to Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone and EVN Telecom-HT Mobile alliance (EVN Telecom was mergered with Viettel Telecom; HT Mobile was renamed Vietnamobile).

Of the five telecom firms in Vietnam, four supply the 3G services. Only Gmobile offers the 2G services.

Na Son