Summary of Draft Regulation on 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz Frequency Band Planning
This draft regulation outlines the updated planning for the 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz frequency bands, specifically designated for Vietnam's public terrestrial mobile communication systems (IMT). It aims to optimize spectrum use for advanced mobile technologies and ensure competitive access for telecommunications enterprises.
Scope and Impact
The regulation focuses on the reallocation of the 900 MHz band to support the deployment of IMT-2000 (3G), IMT-Advanced (4G), IMT-2020 (5G), and subsequent generations. This planning impacts radio device certification by defining the operational parameters and technologies permitted within these bands. Manufacturers and service providers must ensure that equipment intended for the Vietnamese market aligns with these updated frequency block structures and technology roadmaps.
Permitted Radio Bands and Technical Parameters
Starting from September 16, 2026, the 900 MHz band is structured as follows:
Frequency Ranges:
Uplink: 890-915 MHz.
Downlink: 935-960 MHz.
Designated Use: Public terrestrial mobile communication (IMT) using Frequency Division Duplex (FDD).
Bandwidth Allocation:
The 890-915 MHz band is divided into 5 blocks (C1 to C5), each with a width of 5 MHz.
The 935-960 MHz band is divided into 5 blocks (C1' to C5'), each with a width of 5 MHz.
Permitted Technologies: IMT-2000, IMT-Advanced, IMT-2020, and further evolutions.
Specific Restrictions and Exemptions
Technology Sunset: IMT-2000 (3G) systems are permitted to operate in these bands only until the end of September 14, 2028.
Spectrum Cap: The maximum total bandwidth a single organization can be licensed to use within these bands is limited to 2x10 MHz (using FDD).
Interference Management: Licensed organizations are responsible for coordinating with one another to prevent and resolve harmful interference.
Modifications to Existing Regulations
This draft regulation modifies and supplements Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BTTTT dated May 10, 2024, of the Minister of Information and Communications on the planning of the 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz frequency bands for Vietnam's public terrestrial mobile communication system (IMT).
Key changes include:
- Reducing the maximum spectrum cap (CAP) per organization from 2x15 MHz to 2x10 MHz.
- Standardizing the block division into five uniform 2x5 MHz blocks to facilitate more flexible auctioning and prevent spectrum accumulation by a few dominant players.
Testing and Conformity Assessment
While the regulation primarily addresses spectrum planning, devices intended to operate in these bands must comply with Vietnam's national technical regulations (QCVN) for IMT terminals and base stations. Conformity assessment procedures typically require testing against relevant standards to ensure spectral efficiency and coexistence with other services in adjacent bands.
