VietNamNet Bridge - FPT is preparing for 4G trial, while Vietnamobile has announced it wants to join the 4G playing field. However, the telcos will have to wait until 2017 to attend the auction for the 4G 2.6GHz frequency band.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) has said it will grant licenses to three largest mobile network operators – Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone – to provide 4G services on the 1800 MHz waveband. The waveband, in fact, has been allocated to them for the last 10 years to deploy 2G technology.

According to the Radio Frequency Department, all telcos which want to have the right to use 2.6 GHz waveband will have to attend the auction, and only by 2017 will they be able to join auction for the waveband that MIC specifically reserves for 4G.

Asked if Vietnamobile joins the 4G market, Elizabeth Fong, CEO of Vietnamobile, said Vietnamobile wants to obtain the license for 4G services and it is waiting for policies to be laid down by the Vietnamese government. 

FPT, the largest information technology (IT) Group, which wants to jump into the telecom market, has also applied for testing 4G. 

However, it has not made any further move. Therefore, analysts think FPT is not likely to provide 4G services to subscribers like Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone.

FPT is preparing for 4G trial, while Vietnamobile has announced it wants to join the 4G playing field. However, the telcos will have to wait until 2017 to attend the auction for the 4G 2.6GHz frequency band.

As for Gtel, it has not made any statement if it is interested in 4G.

With the current policy on waveband licensing, in order to obtain licenses for 4G, FPT and Vietnamobile will have to attend the auctions and no one can say for sure if they can obtain the licenses as they must compete with Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone.

A representative of the Radio Frequency Department recently stated that MIC will follow a policy on technology neutrality, in which MIC will grant wavebands to telcos, while telcos have the right to determine what they would use the wavebands for, 3G, 4G or 5G.

The representative went on to say that it would consider allowing 4G on 900, 2100 MHz wavebands if telcos have the demand. 

After Vietnam completes the TV digitalization plan, it will have 700 MHz waveband usable for mobile broadband.

As such, the telcos such as Vietnamobile will still have the opportunity to provide 4G even if they fail at the auction for 2.6 GHz in 2017.

In early 2016, the then Deputy Minister of MIC Le Nam Thang said 4G licensing needs to be implemented in a way to stimulate competition in providing services to customers.

Chi Mai