VIETNAM TO LAUNCH 4G SERVICES IN 2016: DEPUTY MINISTER

“The 4G LTE will be the main development trend of the world’s telecom industry in the future,” Deputy Minister Thang said.

“Vietnam will license network operators to offer 4G services to better use its infrastructure… and create an increasingly competitive and developing telecom environment.”

LTE, an abbreviation for Long-Term Evolution, commonly marketed as 4G LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.

It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network improvements.

The 4G network enables users to transfer data at a speed that is 20 times faster than the maximum speed they can have with a 3G connection.

At the maximum 4G speed, users can download a movie within five to six seconds, or upload 100 songs in 2.4 seconds.

Most attendees at the conference agreed that 2015 is the prime time for Vietnam to implement the 4G technology but the communications ministry still preferred the following year.

“Upgrading to 4G is like building expressways as it will meet demand of a large number of members of the public,” said Thieu Phuong Nam, general director with Qualcomm Indochina, an American semiconductor company that designs and markets wireless telecommunications products and services.

In October 2009, state-run Vinaphone became the first mobile network operator in Vietnam to offer 3G services.

The number of 3G subscribers has since expanded rapidly, topping 27.5 million as of the end of last year, according to the Vietnam Telecom Agency.

All three leading mobile network providers in Vietnam offer an unlimited 3G data plan at VND70,000 (US$3.26) a month.

The average speed of 3G connection in Vietnam is 1.43 Mpbs, compared to the global average of 11.6 Mbps, according to NetIndex, a website which measures global broadband and mobile performance data.

There are currently 360 4G LTE networks running in 124 countries and territories around the world, according to the latest data from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association.

Some 400 million subscribers around the world are using 4G LTE services, and the figure is projected to rise to one billion in 2017, according to British business media group Informa.

Source: Business Times

Related News

BANKING / FINANCE / INSURANCE / TAX

BANKS LAUNCH CROSS-BORDER QR PAYMENTS TO TAP GROWING DIGITAL ECONOMY

Banks are rolling out cross-border QR payment services enabling consumers to make international transactions directly through domestic banking apps to tap into the country’s fast-growing digital economy. The expansion of QR-based payments is gradually reshaping spending habits, reducing reliance on cash and international cards while offering faster and more transparent transactions at points of sale.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S SMALL BUSINESSES TOP ASIA‑PACIFIC GROWTH RANKINGS

Vietnamese small businesses posted the strongest performance among 11 Asia Pacific markets in 2025, with 84% reporting growth, up from 82% a year earlier, according to CPA Australia’s small business survey. This momentum is forecast to continue in 2026 with 89% of small businesses expecting to grow on the back of a strong focus on technology, e-commerce, and improved business management.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA TOP US$50 BILLION IN Q1

Vietnam’s imports from China in the first quarter of 2026 surged a staggering 31.6% year-on-year to more than US$50 billion, accounting for around 40% of the country’s total imports, customs data showed. The increase was driven largely by technology goods and industrial equipment. Imports of computers, electronics and components jumped 62.2% to US$16.77 billion, while machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts rose 25% to US$9.72 billion.

Apr 23, 2026

INFRASTRUCTURE / CONSTRUCTION / LOGISTIC / PORT

VIETNAM TARGETS OVER 30 AIRPORTS, 25 RAILWAY LINES BY 2050

Vietnam plans to expand its nationwide civil aviation network to more than 30 airports by 2050, with total capacity reaching 533 million passengers per year. Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh told the National Assembly on April 20, as the country accelerates decentralization and diversifies funding sources for transport infrastructure.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FIRST-QUARTER GROWTH HITS RECORD HIGH DESPITE GLOBAL VOLATILITY

According to Dragon Capital, Vietnam’s growth momentum strengthened in March following Lunar New Year normalisation, reinforcing confidence that the expansion remained firmly intact through the first quarter of 2026. GDP grew 7.8 per cent on-year in the first quarter, with industry and construction rising 8.9 per cent and services 8.2 per cent, highlighting that growth is not solely reliant on exports and manufacturing, but is increasingly supported by services and domestic demand.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS SURGE ON GLOBAL DEMAND

Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports have made a strong start to the year, with rising shipments and tighter compliance with international standards helping producers tap robust global demand, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association. The association reported export earnings of nearly US$532 million in April, bringing total export value to $2.06 billion in the first four months of the year, up 22 per cent year-on-year.

Apr 23, 2026