Vietnam Telecom Firms to Cut Mobile Service Charges from August

Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone, the three largest mobile network operators in Vietnam, said that they would slash mobile charges by between 10% and 15% from this month, following approval from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) recently.

The move came after the three firms proposed charge reduction to attract clients since early July after the MoIC issued a new regulation to restrict promotion activities beginning July 1.

Viettel, the biggest mobile carrier in terms of subscription, has cut its charges by between 10% and 15%, and has publicized the service charge reduction.

For Viettel subscribers, internal calling fee is only VND1,190/minute compared to VND1,390 previously, while external calling fee is cut to VND1,390 from VND1,590/minute.

Although VinaPhone and MobiFone have got green-light for slashing charges, they have yet announced detailed reduction list for services. Bui Quoc Viet, spokesman for Vietnam Post and Telecommunications (VNPT), said “we need more time for mapping out a price reduction list which is due to be released in mid-August.”

Viet noted in a statement that the charge cut would benefit clients and go in line with the ministry’s price management policy.

The General Statistics Office said that Vietnam licensed 28.9 million new cell phone subscribers in the first seven months of this year, up 20.1% year-on-year, bring the total number of 140.3 million at end-July. (VnEconomy)