In 2007, will license 3G for up to 4 providers

The source from the Frequency Department, Ministry of Posts and Telematics said that the Department is studying and planning to grant licenses for third-generation mobile phone services (3G). As planned in 2007, the Department will conduct licensing for this service. Only a maximum of 4 providers will be provided with 3G services due to the limited number of bandwidth providers.

Currently, the Ministry of Post and Telematics is reviewing technical standards to promulgate regulations on the use of frequency bands for 3G generation network. With 6 mobile phone networks in Vietnam, VinaPhone, MobiFone, Viettel, S-Fone, EVN, and network 092 (coming into operation), there are about 18 million subscribers. Three mobile networks, VinaPhone, MobiFone, and Viettel, have made a request to establish a network and provide 3G services. VNPT's VinaPhone network has also conducted testing of 3G services.

According to the assessment, 3G usage is expected to have more motivation to develop because of its improved quality and great revenue potential. Factors that drive short-term revenue, such as messaging and SMS services, are expected to remain the most popular applications and the largest revenue contribution in Asia.

Currently, for most regional operators (including Japan and Korea), text messaging accounts for 85 to 95% of data revenue. However, it is expected that entertainment content and data services will be the engines of revenue growth throughout the region with 3G. Growth in the area of ​​entertainment content is driven primarily by the need to download 3G games, videos and music.

L.Quang