Military-owned Viettel has been allowed to test in Hanoi with a maximum of 140 base transceiver stations while state company MobiFone can do so in Ho Chi Minh City with 50 stations.
The tests will help the companies evaluate their technology and market size before beginning commercial operations.
The companies need to follow cybersecurity safety and privacy regulations while running the tests, the ministry said.
The first 5G phone call in the country was made on January 17 using equipment manufactured by Viettel, which has been conducting non-commercial tests and installing equipment since last year.
The number of 5G subscriptions could hit
6.3 million by 2025
or 6 percent of total mobile subscriptions, technology conglomerate Cisco has forecast.
5G is said to offer speeds 100 times faster than 4G and support new applications like remote medical procedures and autonomous driving.
- Viettel, MobiFone licenced to commercially test 5G
- Vietnamese telecom carriers licensed to pilot 5G commercial running
- Vietnam grants 5G commercial test licenses to Viettel, MobiFone
- Vietnamese telcos granted permission to test commercial 5G in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnam to cease importing 2G, 3G phones next year
- Mobile network operators agree to share 1,200 transceiver stations
- Four mobile companies strike deal for sharing telecom infrastructure
- Vietnam gears up to deploy commercial 5G in late 2020
- Viettel and Vingroup cooperate to develop 5G broadcasting station
