Under the decision, the wavebands 700 MHz (703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz), 2600 MHz (2500-2600 MHz), and 3700 MHz (3560-4000 MHz) will be put into auction. This is the first step of the process of auctioning for frequencies for 4G and 5G.

The Radio Frequency Department (RFD) has been assigned to choose the institutions meeting the requirements to give appraisal services (appraisal institutions) to define the basic fees for the wavebands of 703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz, 2500-2600 MHz, and 3560-4000 MHz. 

The results of the appraisal will be considered by the department, which will report to the Minister of Information and Communications to release a decision on basic fees for wavebands.

According to RFD, the 700 MHz waveband previously was mostly used for the terrestrial analog television system which has been replaced by terrestrial digital television under the project on digitizing terrestrial transmission and broadcasting by 2020.

On December 28, 2020, Vietnam officially stopped analog terrestrial television broadcasting across the country and the 700 MHz band was freed to be ready for the deployment of the IMT (International mobile telecommunications) system.

On December 25, 2019, MIC released a circular on planning the use of the 694-806 MHz waveband for Vietnam’s mobile information system, effective February 16, 2020. Under the legal document, the 694-806 MHz waveband is used to deploy the IMT system in accordance with IMT-Advanced standards and subsequent versions.

The planning of the 700 MHz waveband use for IMT is expected to satisfy telecom carriers’ expectations and bring positive influences to society: businesses will have information for their equipment procurement and infrastructure development plans, while the watchdog agency can organize auctions and grant the right to use the 700 MHz waveband, and the public can benefit once 4G and 5G services are developed, especially in rural and mountainous areas.

On August 20, 2020, MIC announced a plan to use the 2300-2400 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz for the IMT system of Vietnam, under which 2500-2690 MHz was to be intended for the deployment of IMT systems in accordance with the IMT-Advanced standards and subsequent versions.

The 2500-2690 MHz wavebands are ready to be officially granted to telecom carriers to deploy 4G and 5G nationwide.

RFD has also reserved the 3400-4200 MHz wavebands for the mobile, fixed-line via satellite operations and radar, of which the 3560-4000 MHz would be used for IMT system.

With the auctions of the wavebands, Vietnam would have 500 MHz more bandwidth (both low-band and mid-band) for 4G and 5G deployment.

Thai Khang