The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam published Circular 20/2023/TT-BTTTT on December 29, 2023. The document introduces updates to the national technical standard QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT On Land Mobile Communication Terminals — Radio access.

This standard is essential for the regulation of radio access in land mobile communication terminals and is based on the ETSI EN 30 908-13 V13.2.1 for LTE. It applies to the equipment using GSM, W-CDMA, and E-Ultra technologies.

Key Updates to the Standard

The new version, QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT, includes several critical updates from the previous QCVN 117: 2020/BTTTT. Notably, it has expanded to include additional LTE bands:

• 2300-2400 MHz (B40)
• 2500-2690 MHz (B41)
• 703-733 MHz/758-788 MHz (B28)

Furthermore, a new stipulation mandates that only mobile phones capable of operating on at least one of the specified LTE/4G bands can be considered in compliance with the regulation.

Effective Dates and Transition Period

The updated standard took effect on February 15, 2024.

Between February 15, 2024, and June 30, 2024, importers and manufacturers have the option to apply for a Type Approval certificate in accordance with either the 2020 or the 2023 version of QCVN 117.

However, starting July 1, 2024, compliance with QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT becomes mandatory for all importers and manufacturers. It is important to note that certificates issued under the requirements of QCVN 117:2020 will remain valid until their designated expiration dates.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the updates to LTE bands and operational requirements, the regulation now specifies that mobile phones compliant with the standard must clearly indicate the “VoLTE” abbreviation. This requirement is in line with directives 43/2017/NĐ-CP and 18/2022/TT-BKHCN, ensuring that users are aware of the devices' capabilities and compliance status.

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The information has been prepared by the GMA Consult Group team.

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