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The Ministry of Information and Communications will consider and decide on re-auctioning at an appropriate time for the 3800 - 3900 MHz frequency band. Photo: MBF

On March 19, 2024, VNPT announced that it had successfully bid for the frequency usage rights for the C2 band (3700 - 3800 MHz) to support its 5G network development strategy nationwide in the coming period.

For VNPT, winning the C2 frequency band auction is very important, allowing for many network equipment options, the most reasonable 5G network deployment costs, meeting the strategy of deploying high-speed 5G networks in Vietnam. Along with the 3,700 - 3,800 MHz frequency band, VNPT also owns the 1,800 MHz frequency band, which will be a great advantage in promoting the 5G network in the coming time, at the same time, creating the premise for the development of the 6G network in the future.

Previously, on March 8, 2024, Viettel announced that it had successfully bid for the right to use radio frequencies in the 2500-2600 MHz band for the next 15 years.

Viettel representative said that the 2500-2600 MHz frequency band is of special importance to this network operator, because this is an effective frequency band to deploy simultaneously for both 4G and 5G mobile networks, thereby improving the quality of current 4G services and officially providing 5G services. This is also the optimal frequency band with a coverage area 1.3 times larger than the C band (3500 MHz).

Viettel's winning the auction for the right to use radio frequencies to deploy the 5G mobile network is a necessary condition to keep up with the development trend of telecommunications technology in the world, continue to develop the 4G network and transition to 5G technology. In addition, this is also a roadmap to promote the development of national digital infrastructure, digital service ecosystem, creating new momentum for economic growth and increasing labor productivity.

On March 14, 2024, pursuant to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 52 and Article 59 of the Law on Auction of Assets 2016, the National Joint-Stock Auction Company No. 5 announced that it would not hold the auction for the 3800-3900 MHz frequency due to insufficient number of eligible businesses participating as required by regulations.

Specifically, by the deadline for submitting applications, only 2 businesses had submitted applications to participate in the auction; and by the deadline for submitting the deposit, only 1 business had submitted the deposit.

One question that remains is whether, since the 3800-3900 MHz frequency band was not auctioned, a new auction will be held, and what will the starting price be?

According to information from the Ministry of Information and Communications, after the auction of the right to use radio frequencies for the 3700 - 380 MHz band, the Ministry will consider and decide to re-organize the auction at an appropriate time for the 3800 - 3900 MHz band. The starting price for the C3 band will be determined in accordance with the auction time.

According to the auction regulations, the starting price for the 3800-3900 MHz frequency band will be referenced from the auction for the C2 frequency band (3700-3800 MHz) that VNPT recently won.

Experts believe that the 5G network frequency bands in Vietnam for the three network operators, as planned – 2500-2600 MHz, 3700-3800 MHz, and 3800-3900 MHz – will have a similar number of compatible terminal devices because these are all common frequency bands for 5G networks worldwide.