Frequency demand for new technologies

While the 5G network is foundational to many digital services today, the next-generation network (6G) is expected to expand connectivity between people, machines, and systems in the real world. This will require a new approach to frequency resources. Rather than simply meeting current connectivity needs, spectrum planning needs to take into account a wide range of future requirements, ranging from broad coverage and the transmission of large volumes of data to satellite connectivity in areas where terrestrial infrastructure cannot adequately meet demand.

According to Vu Duc Nghia of the Broadband Wireless Centre under Viettel High Tech, a notable development direction for next-generation networks is the integration of communications with environmental sensing capabilities. Future base stations will not only transmit and receive data but also act as radar sensors to detect and guide aerial vehicles and autonomous systems. To achieve this, network infrastructure must deliver ultra-low latency, high stability, and absolute reliability. Frequency planning for 6G therefore needs to begin early, creating a technical framework ready for smart manufacturing sectors to take the lead in applications.

The development of unmanned aerial vehicles is opening a new space for applications while also creating different requirements for this resource. Airspace below an altitude of about 1,000m is opening a range of economic activities, from goods transport, surveying, and monitoring to infrastructure inspection and production support. Logistics is considered one of the sectors with the potential to generate commercial value at an early stage.

Dang Hai Long, Director of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project at Viet Nam Post Corporation (VNPost), said that aircraft provide an ideal supplementary solution to road transport, particularly in mountainous areas, islands, and areas with difficult terrain. However, an autonomous cargo flight cannot take off by relying solely on the hardware of the aircraft. It requires continuous connectivity with ground control stations, satellite positioning systems, and air traffic management networks.

At present, many small civilian aircraft can use shared frequency bands. But as flight operations expand, particularly beyond visual line of sight, the risk of losing control due to congestion or interference is a real concern. Frequency is no longer merely a tool for data transmission but has become part of the infrastructure that ensures the safety of human lives and airspace security.

On the ground, high-speed rail poses a different requirement: connectivity must be closely linked to operational safety. A modern railway is not made up merely of tracks, locomotives, and stations, it also operates on a “brain” consisting of signalling and information systems, automatic control, and emergency communications.

Pham Duy Hoc, Technical Director of VinSpeed, said that the railway sector is moving towards next-generation information systems based on advanced mobile network platforms, with the aim of meeting increasingly high levels of automation and ensuring the safety of operating trains. For trains with a design speed of up to 350km/h, information systems serving operations must maintain a high level of stability throughout the journey. In addition to voice communications and emergency information, the communications network must also support train signalling, control, and monitoring systems.

Staying one step ahead to pave the way for the future

The technical requirements posed by 6G, unmanned aerial vehicles and high-speed rail show that frequency planning needs to be factored in from the technology preparation and infrastructure design stages.

For high-speed rail, research options are focusing on the 874.4-880MHz, 919.4-925MHz and 1,900-1,910MHz frequency bands for high-speed railway communications systems. The biggest challenge is that these bands must be harmoniously coordinated with existing civilian systems, particularly the 920-923MHz band — which is currently used for electronic toll collection (ETC) and radio-frequency identification devices.

Therefore, measurement, coordination, and assessment of the potential for interference need to be carried out during project preparation, alongside the design of communications and operations systems, rather than being treated as an additional component once the project has taken shape.

Completing spectrum planning for new generations of networks and new applications is an urgent requirement. Alongside planning, there needs to be a controlled real-world testing mechanism (sandbox) through which regulators and businesses can jointly assess connectivity quality, levels of interference, and operational capabilities before large-scale deployment. This approach is particularly necessary for technologies that are still in the process of taking shape.

Dr Luong Xuan Truong, Deputy Head of the Policy and Planning Division, Authority of Radio Frequency Management (Ministry of Science and Technology)

According to Dr Luong Xuan Truong, Deputy Head of the Policy and Planning Division, Authority of Radio Frequency Management (Ministry of Science and Technology), completing spectrum planning for new generations of networks and new applications is an urgent requirement. Alongside planning, there needs to be a controlled real-world testing mechanism (sandbox) through which regulators and businesses can jointly assess connectivity quality, levels of interference, and operational capabilities before large-scale deployment. This approach is particularly necessary for technologies that are still in the process of taking shape.

For strategic technologies to develop rapidly and safely, frequency policy must be stable while also offering long-term predictability. When a new economic sector emerges, its spectrum requirements need to be calculated from day one. Proactively setting aside spectrum space at an early stage is the most important infrastructure springboard, helping strategic technologies accelerate safely and sustainably.