The Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has announced their plan to introduce the VinaPhone 5G service during the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF 2023), which is scheduled for 2 June to 8 July.
The purpose of this initiative is to enable visitors to spread the festive atmosphere and experience by live-streaming fireworks performances at the highest transmission speed of up to 2.2Gbps, which is ten times faster on average compared to the existing 4G network.
Throughout the festival, festival-goers will have convenient access to the VinaPhone 5G service at various locations, including Dragon Bridge, Bach Dang Street, Tran Hung Dao Street, and the surrounding areas. Individuals can also utilise VinaPhone 5G for an array of online experiences such as streaming movies, listening to music, or participating in online conferences.
According to VNPT, the inclusion of the VinaPhone 5G service at the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) holds significance as it commemorates the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the VinaPhone network (26 June 1996 – 26 June 2023). This marks the first time VinaPhone 5G service is being introduced at DIFF. Apart from providing customers with a high-speed internet experience, the 5G service also serves to showcase advanced telecommunications technology to international visitors and festival attendees.
To avail themselves of the VinaPhone 5G service, individuals possessing 5G-enabled devices will need to activate the 5G feature on their phones. They can do this by texting “DK 5G” to the number 888 to access it.
In April, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) announced an auction for frequencies within the 2300-2400 MHz waveband. This initiative was designed to facilitate the progress of network operators in deploying and enhancing their 4G and 5G technologies. The starting price set for this waveband was VND 12.88 billion (US$ 548,481) per MHz per annum, and each company had the opportunity to bid for up to 30 MHz. The companies are allowed to use the wavebands for 15 years for 4G and 5G purposes.
The auction was open to not only mobile service providers but also other telecommunication companies that met the specified requirements. Consequently, the auction allowed for the entry of new players utilising 4G and 5G technologies into the mobile market. Even companies without existing licenses for telecom services were allowed to apply to MIC for evaluation and consideration of their eligibility to participate in the auction. This inclusiveness enabled a wider range of entities to join the telecommunications sector potentially.
As OpenGov Asia reported, upon successfully winning the auction and paying the fees in full and on time, the businesses were awarded licenses to use frequencies and offer telecommunication services. These companies, which participated in the auction for the usage rights of radio frequencies within the 2300-2400 MHz waveband, gained the ability to establish networks and provide telecommunication services employing either IMT-Advanced (4G) or IMT-2020 (5G) technologies.
Recently, at the 31st meeting of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Wireless Group, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Pham Duc Long, discussed the management of potential frequency bands for 6G technology, the effective management of broadband satellite beams, expanding wireless internet coverage through band extensions, and the advancements and implications of 5G technology.
He said that the world is currently confronted with a range of complex issues in the era of wireless devices. APT, in response, is committed to collaborating with member countries to address these problems and effectively overcome the associated challenges.
