Vietnamese mobile service providers last week announced that they would offer 4G mobile broadband technology on a trial basis soon, local media reported.

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After military-run Viettel Telecom said that it will launch 4G mobile broadband services on a pilot basis next month, state-run Vinaphone followed suit by saying it will offer the same services within the next two months.

Viettel Telecom will start offering the trial 4G services at rates no higher than what its 3G service users are paying, news website VnEconomy reported on September 3.

One day later, tinhte.vn, a technology news website like engadget.com, and zing.vn reported that Vinaphone will make a similar move in October or November.

4G is short for the fourth-generation of wireless communication technology that allows transmission of data at the maximum speed in ideal conditions of up to 1-1.5GB per second, many times higher than what is offered by the current 3G technology, VnEconomy reported.

Viettel Telecom said the immediate coverage of its 4G network will be in the biggest towns, districts, provinces and cities nationwide.

By the end of 2015, or in the first quarter of 2016 at the latest, the firm will finish installing 12,000 4G stations.

According to the mobile network operator, subscribers who want to use 4G services must change their SIM cards, but they can maintain their phone numbers.

Meanwhile, Vinaphone said its 3G service subscribers do not need to change their SIM cards when registering to use the new 4G service.

As of June 2015, Viettel Telecom held the biggest share of the Vietnamese telecom market with 52 percent, followed by Vinaphone and MobiFone with 18 percent each.

In September 2010, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued five permits for testing 4G technology to Viettel Telecom, Vinaphone, CMC, FPT and VTC.

Those telecom enterprises were then allowed to test 4G technology within one or two years to assess the technology and need of users in Vietnam.

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