Telecom Firms Plan Mobile Charge Cut

Vietnam’s two largest telecom firms VNPT Group and Viettel Corp. are considering new cuts in mobile communication service charges in the third quarter this year, local media said.

 

The highest reduction may be 20 per cent for inter-network charge (outcoming calls to subscribed numbers of other service providers) and 10 per cent for inner-network charge (outcoming calls to subscribed numbers of the same service providers).

 

The new reduction of mobile tariffs is to bring more interests to clients, both Viettel and VNPT said.

 

So far, the service tariffs introduced by Viettel Mobile are always 10-15 per cent lower than those of state-run VNPT’s Vinaphone and MobiFone networks.

 

With a lower service price, the military-run Viettel has replaced Vinaphone and MobiFone to become the country’s largest mobile phone service provider after more than two years of operation. Vinaphone and MobiFone were set up more than 10 years ago.

 

Recently, the three networks have asked the Ministry of Posts and Telecom to give more numbers as their number reserves are running out.

 

Viettel has boasted to have more than 10 million subscribers while VNPT’s MobiFone and Vinaphone have more than eight million each. Vietnam is also home to three other mobile phone carriers, namely S-Fone, EVN-Telecom and HT Mobile, which are keeping minor market shares.