Vietnam’s 900 MHz spectrum auction concluded successfully on September 9, 2026, with three major telecom operators securing paired frequency blocks in a competitive bidding process. VNPT Group, Viettel Group and Vietnamobile Mobile Telecommunications Joint Stock Company each won one of the three available spectrum pairs, with combined winning bids exceeding VND 3 trillion.
The National Joint-Stock Auction Company No. 5 conducted the 900 MHz spectrum auction on the afternoon of September 9. Three paired blocks were put up for bidding, each carrying a starting price of VND 1,056,943,950,000. The bidding increment in each round was set at VND 10 billion.
The three paired blocks and their winning bidders are as follows. VNPT Group secured the C3-C3′ pair covering 900 to 905 MHz and 945 to 950 MHz for nearly VND 1.079 trillion. Viettel Group won the C4-C4′ pair spanning 905 to 910 MHz and 950 to 955 MHz for nearly VND 1.077 trillion. Vietnamobile claimed the C5-C5′ pair covering 910 to 915 MHz and 955 to 960 MHz for nearly VND 1.077 trillion.
The licence for each awarded block is valid for 15 years from its effective date. The winning operators will use the spectrum to provide 4G services and subsequent technologies.
First Auction of an Actively Exploited Frequency Band
According to Le Van Tuan, Director of the Radio Frequency Department at the Ministry of Science and Technology, this 900 MHz spectrum auction carries particular significance because it is the first time in Vietnam that a frequency band already in active use for mobile communications has been auctioned. Unlike earlier auctions involving the 2.6 GHz, 3.7 GHz and 700 MHz bands, which covered new or repurposed television broadcasting frequencies, the 900 MHz band has been used for 2G services since the early days of GSM networks in 1993. Vietnam’s GSM network is scheduled to remain in operation until September 15, 2026, after which the 900 MHz band will be reallocated for 4G and subsequent technologies.
The auction employed a two-phase mechanism. The first phase determined the quantity of spectrum blocks each bidder would acquire, while the second phase established the specific location of the paired blocks within the 900 MHz range. This approach allowed operators to participate in line with their individual strategic requirements.
Strengthening Vietnam’s Spectrum Allocation for 4G and 5G Coverage
The successful completion of this auction adds frequency resources for International Mobile Telecommunications, commonly known as IMT. According to the Radio Frequency Department, the spectrum allocation provides a foundation for operators to improve network quality and expand 4G and 5G coverage across the country.
Director Le Van Tuan noted that Vietnam’s total mobile spectrum allocation has doubled from 340 MHz in 2020 to 680 MHz in 2025, as reported by the Radio Frequency Department. During the same period, 5G population coverage exceeded 91.9 percent, according to the same source.
This 900 MHz spectrum auction follows Vietnam’s earlier successful auctions for the 2.6 GHz and 3.7 GHz bands in 2024 and the 700 MHz band in 2025, continuing the country’s structured approach to spectrum allocation for advanced mobile networks.