Mr. Thieu Phuong Nam, General Director of Qualcomm Indochina

How can waste be avoided when network operators continue to invest in 3G?

The 4G LTE network has grown strongly around the world over recent years. Some 422 4G LTE networks have been commercialized in nearly 130 countries. Nearly half a billion people are using LTE networks worldwide. So the development of 4G LTE in Vietnam is the next step after 3G.

However, problems between the network business and the benefits of consumers are still being analyzed to deliver 4G LTE to common devices at a reasonable price. 4G will not completely replace 3G, and Qualcomm has also identified that 3G and 4G services in Vietnam can coexist, so it is also reasonable that Vietnam invests in a 4G network but still continues to expand 3G.

It is not an incorrect strategy, because at present there are a number of reasons why 3G networks are also important.

Can you tell us about the impact of 4G on the economy?

In telecom network infrastructure, 4G is like a highway, which improves Vietnam’s information infrastructure significantly. In particular, 4G expands the ratio of mobile broadband use, with a 10 per cent increase in this ratio leading to an increase of 1 per cent in a country’s GDP, according to calculations. So I think that 4G will contribute a great deal to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

How will the deployment of 4G impact on the revenue of network operators? And how should these operators prepare?

Qualcomm believes that 4G will push up the number of internet mobile broadband users, so revenue per user will also rise because high speed 4G will increase the amount of data used per month when users move from 3G to 4G. Higher mobile data per user than 3G results in higher revenues.

The most important thing is to prepare carefully for greater efficiency. The first step is to implement a technical strategy for network bands. Network operators then need to clarify targeted customers with high demand for data use. Networks should also consider providing a service that matches the targeted market, to record good sales and enhance business efficiency.

VN Economic Times