Auctioning frequencies is a must for 5G commercialization, and the ministry wants to organize auctions soon to pave the way to deploy new technologies. However, since 2019, MIC has had no other choice than to wait for the Law on Frequencies (amended) to take effect on July 1, 2023.

After that, MIC compiled Decree 63 for the organization and calculation of frequency auctions. Under a roadmap which has been sketched out, the auction will be organized in November.

After the auction, MIC will grant 5G frequency right in 2023 so that telecom carriers can begin deploying 5G in 2024.

Alongside with the licensing, Vietnam also is preparing to manufacture 5G telecom equipment. Viettel has produced equipment, and it is testing products in the final step. MIC hopes that the certificates on meeting Vietnamese standards will be granted to Viettel’s equipment.

The ministry has recently signed a decision on defining the fees from wavebands so as to activate the process of auctioning for the right to use frequencies for 4G and 5G. 

The 700 MHz wavebands (703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz), 2600 MHz (2500-2600 MHz), and 3700 MHz (3560-4000 MHz) will be put into auction.

The MIC Minister has assigned the Authority of Radio Frequency Management (ARFM) to choose an organization that can meet the requirements to provide price appraisal service to work on the basic fee to be applied to 703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz, 2500-2600 MHz and 3560-4000 MHz wavebands. The results of the appraisal will be submitted to MIC, which will set official fee rates for wavebands. 

According to ARFM, the 700 Mhz waveband was most used for terrestrial analog television system. However, the system was replaced by the terrestrial digital television under the framework on the project on terrestrial television transmission and broadcasting digitization by 2020.

In December 2020, Vietnam officially stopped the terrestrial analog television throughout the country. The 700 MHz waveband was released for the deployment of the IMT system.

With the auction for the right to use frequencies 700 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3700 MHz wavebands, Vietnam will have 500 MHz more bandwidth (both low-band and mid-band) for the IMT mobile information system to deploy 4G/5G in Vietnam.

Thai Khang