VNPT to launch nationwide coverage for 4G services by 2017

Thứ Hai, 31/10/2016, 14:23
Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) will install 21,000 base transceiver stations (BTS) to facilitate 4G services throughout 63 cities and provinces across the country by 2017.

The information was announced by Tran Manh Hung, chairman of VNPT's member council, at a ceremony held by the group in Hanoi on October 28 to receive the official licence to run 4G services from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).

Earlier, VNPT began testing 4G services on the 1,800 MHz bandwidth in Phu Quoc island district, Kien Giang province and in some districts of Ho Chi Minh City in January this year.

After receiving the licence, VNPT will make every effort to quickly and effectively establish 4G services across Vietnam, Hung pledged.

He revealed that the group will officially launch 4G services in Phu Quoc in the coming week with no changes to costs for customers in comparison to 3G services.

Customers in Phu Quoc island district, Kien Giang province try out 4G services which were piloted there by VNPT in January 2016. Photo: VNA

Speaking at the ceremony, MIC Minister Truong Minh Tuan said that the granting of official licenses for 4G network implementation opens a new stage of competitiveness in the telecommunications sector, stressing that its success will depend on what services network providers bring to their customers.

He also committed to creating an equal and fair environment for network providers in order to boost Vietnam’s information technology and telecommunications sector.

He asked VNPA to ensure their service quality as committed, and urged the group to conduct surveys on customer demands in order to design a feasible and effective business strategy while ensuring information safety and security.

4G is the fourth generation of mobile data transmitting technology, which offers speeds of up to 1.5 gigabits per second, several hundred times faster than 3G.

The ministry previously approved the piloting of 4G services by VNPT, Viettel, MobiFone and FPT Telecom.

NDO