Local residents in Hanoi will experience a fifth-generation (5G) network service once it is launched on a trial basis in the first quarter of the year, according to the municipal Department of Information and Communications at a meeting held today, Lao Dong newspaper reported.

A person uses a smartphone to browse internet in this file photo. Hanoi will launch 5G service on a trial basis in the first quarter of the year. 

Three major local telecom carriers -- Viettel, MobiFone and VinaFone -- will join the pilot provision of the 5G service.

The department at the meeting noted that it will introduce solutions to further develop the telecom infrastructure by applying modern technology, including focusing on the development of 4G and 5G services, the new generations of telecom networks.

Developing 4G and 5G services in Hanoi is expected to pave the way for building the infrastructure required for a smart city project.

Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Communications told a meeting, held on January 15 on targets for the year, that it will pilot the 5G service both in Hanoi and HCMC during this quarter. The launch of the service will be on par with developing the infrastructure of the digital economy and society, as well as that of the 4.0 era and Internet of Things.

The 5G service’s speed is estimated to be 40 times faster than that of the 4G service. For example, it takes six minutes to download a 3D movie using a 4G network, while it takes only six seconds on a 5G network.

SGT