QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT is Vietnam’s national technical regulation on standalone 5G user equipment (UE) – radio access, issued under Circular 06/2021/TT-BTTTT. The single most important point for businesses is one sentence: a standalone 5G mobile device must be able to operate, at minimum, on every one of the bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78. A device that only works on a few bands will not pass.
This article puts the QCVN 127 requirements into a band table, a power table and a test list, then explains them in plain language. You do not need to be a radio engineer to understand how your device is assessed.
A note on scope: this is our own explanation for knowledge-sharing, not a legal document. When you prepare a formal dossier, check the published version on the Official Gazette or the national legal database.
Quick summary
- Document: QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT, issued under Circular 06/2021/TT-BTTTT dated 31 August 2021.
- Scope: standalone 5G user equipment (5G SA UE), HS code 8517.12.00.
- Key rule: must operate, at minimum, on all six bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78.
- In force: 1 March 2022; mandatory before placing on the market from 1 July 2022.
- Technical content: transmitter requirements (output power, spectrum emissions) and receiver requirements (sensitivity, blocking, spurious emissions) for both FR1 and FR2.
What is QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT and which devices does it cover?
QCVN 127 sets out radio access technical requirements for standalone 5G user equipment. It applies to both domestic and foreign organisations and individuals that produce or trade these devices on Vietnamese territory.
The specific subject is products and goods with an HS code listed in Annex A. Annex A names a single group:
- Terrestrial mobile communication terminal equipment, HS code 8517.12.00 – a 5G terrestrial mobile phone that may also integrate E-UTRA, W-CDMA FDD, GSM, 2.4 GHz radio, 5 GHz radio access or short-range radio.
The regulation is specific to standalone 5G, that is 5G Standalone (SA). Devices that rely on a 4G network (Non-Standalone) fall outside the scope of QCVN 127.
The key point: six mandatory bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77, n78
This is the most important practical requirement in QCVN 127 and the easiest one to miss when preparing a dossier. The regulation states clearly: standalone 5G mobile communication terminal equipment must be able to operate, at minimum, on all bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78.
For businesses, this sentence means three things:
- All six bands: the device must work on n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78. Missing a single band means it does not pass.
- “At minimum” is a floor: this is the minimum set of bands required, not an upper limit. Extra bands are allowed.
- n77 and n78 must be ready: the regulation has a separate note. These two bands must be ready and may only be activated and used once they are allocated in Vietnam.
If a device supports only a few common bands, the dossier will run into exactly this point. So check the device’s technical documentation before submitting samples.
Operating band table under QCVN 127
QCVN 127 lists the bands in Table 1, split into FR1 (below 6 GHz) and FR2 (millimetre wave). The UL column is the UE transmit direction and the DL column is the UE receive direction.
| 5G band | UL – UE transmit (MHz) | DL – UE receive (MHz) | Duplex | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1 | 1 920 – 1 980 | 2 110 – 2 170 | FDD | FR1 |
| n3 | 1 710 – 1 785 | 1 805 – 1 880 | FDD | FR1 |
| n5 | 824 – 835 | 869 – 880 | FDD | FR1 |
| n8 | 880 – 915 | 925 – 960 | FDD | FR1 |
| n28 | 703 – 733 | 758 – 788 | FDD | FR1 |
| n40 | 2 300 – 2 400 | 2 300 – 2 400 | TDD | FR1 |
| n41 | 2 496 – 2 690 | 2 496 – 2 690 | TDD | FR1 |
| n77 | 3 300 – 4 200 | 3 300 – 4 200 | TDD | FR1 |
| n78 | 3 300 – 3 800 | 3 300 – 3 800 | TDD | FR1 |
| n258 | 24 250 – 27 500 | 24 250 – 27 500 | TDD | FR2 |
The six bands in bold are the mandatory minimum set. The other four (n5, n8, n40, n258) appear in the technical scope of the regulation but are not part of the mandatory minimum.
Transmitter requirements (FR1)
In FR1, the transmitter is constrained by three groups of parameters: maximum output power, minimum output power and output spectrum emissions.
Maximum output power is set by the power class. Table 8 of the regulation specifies the following:
| 5G band | Class 2 (dBm) | Tolerance | Class 3 (dBm) | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1, n3, n5, n8, n40 | – | – | 23 | ±2 |
| n28 | – | – | 23 | +2 / −2.5 |
| n41 | 26 | +2 / −3 | 23 | ±2 |
| n77, n78 | 26 | +2 / −3 | 23 | +2 / −3 |
The other three transmitter parameters:
- Minimum output power: the lowest power the device can control. The limit falls with channel bandwidth, from −40 dBm (5-20 MHz channel) down to −33 dBm (100 MHz channel).
- Occupied bandwidth: the bandwidth containing 99% of transmit power, which must not exceed the assigned channel bandwidth.
- Out-of-band emissions: controlled by the spectrum emission mask (SEM) and the adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR).
Receiver requirements (FR1)
For the receiver, QCVN 127 uses the 3GPP and ETSI set of parameters. Six main groups:
- Reference sensitivity: the weakest signal the device can still receive and decode correctly.
- Adjacent channel selectivity: the ability to reject interference from an adjacent channel.
- Blocking characteristics: the ability to withstand a strong interfering signal outside the wanted band.
- Spurious response: the level of false response to an unwanted frequency.
- Intermodulation characteristics: the interference generated when two interfering signals appear at once.
- Spurious emissions: unwanted emissions produced by the receiver.
FR2 receivers use the same groups of parameters, differing only in test conditions and band.
FR2 and what is different
FR2 is the millimetre-wave range. In Table 1 of the regulation, FR2 contains a single band, n258 (24 250 – 27 500 MHz). The regulation still sets transmitter and receiver requirements for FR2, covering power, emissions and the corresponding receive parameters.
The biggest difference from FR1 is the test condition and antenna system. FR2 antennas are usually directional arrays, so measurements require a suitable near-field or far-field test chamber.
Effective date and application roadmap
Circular 06/2021/TT-BTTTT sets out clear milestones:
- In force: the Circular took effect on 1 March 2022.
- Mandatory: from 1 July 2022, imported and domestically produced standalone 5G terminal equipment must comply with QCVN 127 before being placed on the market.
- Encouraged: businesses, organisations and individuals are encouraged to apply the regulation from the date the Circular takes effect.
For products already on the market, businesses still need to know this regulation to prepare for future imports, model changes or additional dossiers.
What must businesses do to bring 5G phones into Vietnam?
QCVN 127 is a legal technical regulation, so a product must be certified for conformity and have its conformity declared before it is placed on the market. Suggested sequence:
- Identify HS code 8517.12.00 and the product’s risk group under Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN.
- List all applicable QCVNs, not just QCVN 127. Mobile phones are also subject to electrical safety, EMC and SAR regulations.
- Check the device documentation to confirm it operates on all six bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78.
- Choose an accredited, designated or recognised testing laboratory and the appropriate conformity assessment route.
- Prepare the conformity declaration dossier and track the validity of related regulations such as QCVN 132 on electrical safety for telecom terminals.
Frequently asked questions
Does QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT apply to Non-Standalone 5G devices?
No. QCVN 127 applies to standalone 5G user equipment (SA). Devices that work only through a 4G network (Non-Standalone) are outside its scope.
Which bands must a device support, at minimum?
A standalone 5G device must operate, at minimum, on all six bands n1, n3, n28, n41, n77 and n78.
Can bands n77 and n78 be used right away?
Not yet. The regulation requires n77 and n78 to be ready, and they may only be activated and used once these bands are allocated in Vietnam.
What is the HS code for standalone 5G terminal equipment?
Under Annex A of QCVN 127, terrestrial mobile communication terminal equipment falls under HS code 8517.12.00.
When did QCVN 127 come into force?
Circular 06/2021/TT-BTTTT took effect on 1 March 2022. From 1 July 2022, imported and domestically produced devices must comply before being placed on the market.
References
- Circular 06/2021/TT-BTTTT issuing QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT (Official Gazette No. 825 + 826, 25 September 2021).
- QCVN 127:2021/BTTTT – National technical regulation on standalone 5G user equipment – radio access.
- Referenced standards: 3GPP TS 38.508-1, 3GPP TS 38.133, 3GPP TS 38.321; ETSI TS 138 101-1, ETSI TS 138 101-2, ETSI TS 138 521-1, ETSI TS 138 521-2.
Related articles
- QCVN 132:2022/BTTTT: Electrical safety for telecom terminals
- Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN: full text of the list of medium-risk and high-risk goods
- Conformity assessment procedure 2026: household electrical appliances and ICT
- QCVN 129:2021/BTTTT: non-standalone 5G UE
- QCVN 117:2023/BTTTT: RF standard for mobile terminals
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This article is for reference and explanation only and does not replace the legal text. Please check the officially published version on the Official Gazette or the national legal database when preparing a dossier. Updated: 10 October 2026.
