Viettel, VNPT receive 4G licences

Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan on October 14 signed licences granted to the military-run Viettel Group and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) to set up public telecommunication networks and provide 4G services.

The permission of 4G services is part of the Government-approved telecommunication development plan to 2020.

With the licences, the two firms can launch 4G service on the 1800MHz band. Earlier, Viettel and VNPT, the first two firms to apply for 4G licences, passed strict verification and inspection of their infrastructure system, technology and business models.

In late 2015, Viettel piloted 4G services in Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Hanoi, while VNPT trialled 4G services in Ho Chi Minh City and Kien Giang since January 2016.

4G is the fourth generation of telecommunication technology, which is ten times faster than the previous generation and has already been launched in many countries.

According to the Department of Radio Frequencies, Vietnam can only popularise the service as from 2018. However, major telecommunication service providers said that they can officially launch the service right after receiving the licences.

(Source: NDO)