VietNamNet Bridge - Mobile service providers in Vietnam said they are not prepared to offer 4G services as they are more concerned with 3G services.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) recently collected opinions from mobile providers on the rolling out of 4G services in Vietnam.

Mobile phone giants Viettel, VinaPhone, MobiFone, and the EVN Telecom-Hanoi Telecom Joint Venture all said that they were unprepared to offer 4G services, as they were more concerned about developing and deploying successful 3G services.

The providers said they were more interested in recouping their investment in 3G service projects. They were also facing negative reactions from local residents in big cities such as Hanoi and HCM City opposed to the installation of BTS stations.

Officials from VinaPhone and MobileFone, which both belong to the Vietnam Posts and Communications Group (VNPT), said mobile providers could pilot some 4G service projects, but realistically it would take some years to develop the service.

MIC however has decided to allow three more firms, including FPT Telecom, CMC and VTC, in addition to Viettel, VinaPhone and MobileFone, to pilot 4G services for a year beginning from September 7.

After the pilot period, these providers will have to bid for a license to operate 4G services, with the proviso that they can transfer their license at a later date.

To date, Viettel has provided the piloted 4G service to 240 clients in Hanoi and HCM City since May 11. In the meantime, other providers continue preparing their infrastructure.

4G offers fourth generation cellular wireless standards, and is primarily focused on achieving ultra-broadband speeds, competing with and in some cases outstripping the speeds provided by home internet connections, with the potential to be 10 to 100 times faster than 3G networks.

Source: DTinews