BlogVietnam 4G/5G Spectrum Bands: 700, 900, 2600, 3700 MHz (updated Oct 2026)

Q: Who won the 700 MHz spectrum in Vietnam?

Viettel won block B2 B2' (713–723 / 768–778 MHz) on 20 May 2025; VNPT won block B1 B1' (703–713 / 758–768 MHz) on 16 September 2025.

5G 4G Radio #4G #5G #Viettel #băng tần #700MHz #900MHz #tắt sóng 2G #VNPT

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Why do bands matter for 4G/5G? Auctions held for 4G/5G spectrum 2500–2600 MHz (block B1) – Viettel 3700–3800 MHz (block C2) – VNPT 700 MHz (the “diamond band”) 900 MHz (after the 2G sunset) – 9 September 2026 The 2G switch-off on 15 September 2026 Choosing a phone compatible with Vietnamese bands Frequently asked questions What is the 700 MHz band used for? Who won the 700 MHz spectrum in Vietnam? Which operator holds the 3700–3800 MHz band? When was 2G switched off in Vietnam? What is the 900 MHz band used for after the 2G shutdown? Sources

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Sunex 06/10/2026 · 5 phút đọc

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After the 2024–2026 spectrum auctions and the nationwide 2G switch-off on 15 September 2026, Vietnam’s mobile spectrum map has changed significantly. This article summarizes the bands auctioned for 4G/5G, which operator won which block, and what each band means technically (coverage, capacity, 3GPP band numbers).

Figures come from mainstream press at the time of the update (see Sources below). For engineering or commercial decisions, cross-check the official announcements of Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology / Authority of Radio Frequency Management.

Why do bands matter for 4G/5G?

A band is the “road” radio waves use to carry data. Rules of thumb:

Low bands (below 1 GHz – e.g. 700, 900 MHz): long range and good wall penetration → wide and indoor coverage, ideal for rural areas, but narrow bandwidth means lower capacity.
Mid bands (1–3 GHz – e.g. 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz): a balance of coverage and capacity.
Upper mid bands (3–4 GHz – e.g. 3700–3800 MHz, “C-band”): wide bandwidth and high speeds, but smaller cell radius and more sites needed.

Auctions held for 4G/5G spectrum

2500–2600 MHz (block B1) – Viettel

100 MHz of bandwidth, 15-year license.
Viettel won on 8 March 2024 for over VND 7,533 billion.
Considered the “golden” 5G band because it serves both 4G and 5G, with coverage about 1.6–1.7x larger than the 3700–3800 MHz C-band (per VnExpress).
Technically it sits in the TDD band 41 / n41.

3700–3800 MHz (block C2) – VNPT

100 MHz of bandwidth, 15-year license.
VNPT won on 19 March 2024, with a starting price of VND 1,956 billion.
This band mainly serves 5G (n77/n78 range).

700 MHz (the “diamond band”)

B2-B2’ (713–723 MHz / 768–778 MHz): won by Viettel on 20 May 2025; rated as having a coverage advantage over the other blocks.
B1-B1’ (703–713 MHz / 758–768 MHz): won by VNPT on 16 September 2025 for about VND 1,995.6 billion (starting price VND 1,955.6 billion).
Block B3-B3’ (723–733 MHz / 778–788 MHz) was put up for re-auction after the late-2024 round failed for lack of participating companies.
Each block is 2×10 MHz with a 15-year term; technically in band 28 (APT700), giving wide coverage for both 4G and 5G.

900 MHz (after the 2G sunset) – 9 September 2026

The 9 September 2026 auction offered three 2×5 MHz paired blocks:

Block	Range	Winner	Price (approx.)
C3-C3’	900–905 / 945–950 MHz	VNPT	VND 1,079 billion
C4-C4’	905–910 / 950–955 MHz	Viettel	VND 1,077–1,079 billion
C5-C5’	910–915 / 955–960 MHz	Vietnamobile	VND 1,077 billion

Total proceeds exceeded VND 3,000 billion, with a 15-year term; prices closed near the starting price (about VND 1,056 billion per block), indicating weaker competition than the 700 MHz and 2600 MHz auctions. The range belongs to band 8 (n8), formerly used mainly for 2G.

The 2G switch-off on 15 September 2026

On 15 September 2026, Vietnam stopped broadcasting 2G nationwide. The 900 MHz spectrum freed by 2G was re-auctioned to expand 4G/5G in both urban and rural areas. Practical consequences for users and businesses:

2G-only handsets (old feature phones) must be replaced with 4G devices that support VoLTE.
IoT/M2M devices using 2G modules (meters, monitoring devices, older POS terminals) must move to LTE-M, NB-IoT or LTE Cat-1.
4G voice uses VoLTE on IMS, so the phone must support VoLTE on the specific operator.

Choosing a phone compatible with Vietnamese bands

When buying a phone (especially a grey-market import), check for:

4G LTE: B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B7 (2600 FDD), B8 (900), B28 (700), B40/B41 (TDD).
5G NR: n1, n3, n28, n41, n77/n78 depending on the operator.
VoLTE supported by the operator for that model.

Operators usually publish lists of VoLTE/5G-supported devices on their official sites.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 700 MHz band used for?

The 700 MHz band (band 28) is a low band with long range and good wall penetration, used for both 4G and 5G to deliver wide coverage, especially in rural areas and indoors.

Who won the 700 MHz spectrum in Vietnam?

Viettel won block B2-B2’ (713–723 / 768–778 MHz) on 20 May 2025; VNPT won block B1-B1’ (703–713 / 758–768 MHz) on 16 September 2025.

Which operator holds the 3700–3800 MHz band?

VNPT won block C2 (3700–3800 MHz, 100 MHz) on 19 March 2024 with a 15-year term.

When was 2G switched off in Vietnam?

Vietnam stopped broadcasting 2G nationwide on 15 September 2026.

What is the 900 MHz band used for after the 2G shutdown?

Three paired 900 MHz blocks were auctioned on 9 September 2026 to VNPT, Viettel and Vietnamobile to expand 4G/5G coverage.