E-Net: A new wind

Wireless Internet users in Vietnam have just added a new option - the wireless Internet service E-Net of operator EVN Telecom (Telecom Power Company).

Like the Mobile Internet service that S-Fone has tested, EVN Telecom's E-Net allows users of this operator's service to access broadband wireless Internet (using a mobile phone as a modem). Similar to Wi-fi Internet connection, but E-Net's coverage area is much larger, this is a great advantage of this service. And if the service is complete, Wi-Fi is likely to be market share.

Current ability

E-Net is provided through CDMA 2000 1x mobile phone technology with frequency of 450 MHz. First, it must be emphasized that E-Net is currently offered in the region rather than inter-provincial - only for subscribers using EVN Telecom's local mobile phone service (E-phone), as a mobile phone service of Cityphone. If you register for E-phone in Ho Chi Minh City, you can only use E-Net in Ho Chi Minh City; If you go to Hanoi, you cannot use E-Net with E-phone registered in Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa. This is the limit that E-Net is facing (it still surpasses Wi-Fi in terms of coverage radius anyway).

Currently, customers can register to use E-Net in: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Son La, Ha Giang, Bac Ninh, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kontum, Dak Nong, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Long An, Tay Ninh and Vinh Long , Tien Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Kien Giang. However, not all regions in these localities have waves of EVN Telecom, so when registering the service you should ask carefully whether the areas you want to use E-Net have waves.

In order to use E-Net, users must register E-phone subscription and must connect their mobile phone to the computer via cable (COM or USB port, the price of each cable is from 60 to over 200,000 VND depending on the mobile phone). EVN Telecom said that it must provide PCMCIA cards for laptops only in the third quarter of 2006.

Currently the E-Net service has an actual data transfer rate of up to 153.6 Kbps, which is considered to be the highest among mobile wireless broadband Internet services offered in Vietnam. This speed is also many times faster than the maximum speed of 56 Kbps of normal dial-up connection, but compared to ADSL (maximum speed of 2 Mbps) is much lower. E-Net's price does not yet have VAT of 35 VND / minute, in addition, when connecting to the Internet, users also have to pay additional EVN Telecom mobile phone fee of 329 VND / minute. Total Internet connection fee of E-Net service is 364 VND / minute or 21,840 VND / hour. For more information about E-Net as well as EVN Telecom's services, you can call (04) 2232323 or (08) 2232323.

EVN Telecom said that from the second quarter - the third quarter of 2006, this network will conduct E-Net service on mobile phone service nationwide E-Mobile, then users can connect to any wireless broadband Internet Where there is EVN Telecom. You should also note that E-phone subscribers who want to switch to E-Mobile must change numbers, but do not need to change their mobile phones. EVN Telecom also promises that in the future, E-Net's speed will be significantly improved when it is upgraded to CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO standard with maximum speed of 2.4 Mbps. In addition, CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO announced by Hanoi Telecom and S-Fone will be launched this year.

Thus, with the establishment of E-Net, the trend of broadband wireless Internet connection will be more and more popular and convenient than ever in Vietnam. The service is being aggressively promoted by a group of CDMA service operators (GSM operators can hardly do this this year). However, in some respects, at this time, wireless Internet connection service with CDMA technology is still incomplete and not really attractive to users. Because, like E-Net, the most powerful mobile phone wireless Internet connection service currently only allows users to access local Internet, limited speed and high rates (more Most of the public Wi-Fi Internet access points available in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are available for free.

WILL HAVE A COMBINED CIRCUIT FOR 3G

Market dynamics
Since there is an internal wireless network (WLAN), its popularity and the number of laptop users (mobile internet users) have grown significantly in offices, hotels, and homes. accommodation, college, cafes . Business venues such as hotels, convention centers . often offer WLAN charging. Some cafes and restaurants offer free WLAN access.
More and more laptops are integrated with WLAN technology and WLAN component prices are declining. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, over 70% of laptops sold today are integrated with WLAN modems.
The advantages and benefits of mobile broadband connections allow users to access the Internet anytime, anywhere. The introduction of 3G mobile technologies such as CDMA2000 and WCDMA to meet this need, allowing users of laptops to connect mobile broadband with very wide coverage - standard 3G base stations can cover range many kilometers, while standard WLAN access points are only available within 15 - 30m. The need for mobile broadband access is growing and the cost of equipment is declining due to the large scale of production that has helped leading laptop manufacturers integrate 3G wireless technology and WLAN into their products.

3G and WLAN - complement each other
With a laptop that supports both 3G and WLAN technology, most users will use WLAN in limited and free areas, and use 3G in areas other than free WLAN coverage. Both the IT and telecommunications industry are taking the necessary steps to ensure connectivity between 3G and WLAN. Laptop vendors are planning steps to integrate software functionality and operating systems, allowing users to "smooth" roaming between 3G and WLAN networks.

Benefits for businesses
Not only individual users but also many businesses are using the benefits of 3G integrated laptops; Employees can securely access remotely to corporate databases anywhere (within 3G coverage), real-time - just like they are at the office. For example, you can access your corporate e-mail server to send / receive e-mail at the airport . Moreover, 3G networks are not easily "eavesdropped" as WLANs.

Prospects
Many 3G network operators in the world have succeeded in deploying mobile broadband Internet services, making 3G networks wide-area coverage a reality. 3G mobile technology is converging with WLAN and laptops. The entire IT industry, laptop manufacturers, service providers and users will all benefit from this prospect.
( According to www.qualcomm.com )
Nhat Binh