Shared infrastructure of mobile networks: Why not?

Evaluation of the mobile telecommunications market in 2007, many experts said that, instead of confronting, disputes, domestic enterprises will talk, "shake hands" together to build network infrastructure strong enough. , compete with international .

One of the positive moves is to cooperate to deploy the common network infrastructure among "aliens", instead of each "running" in a different way. Talking to VietNamNet , the Minister of Post and Telematics Do Trung Ta stated that: "The Ministry always recommends that telecom businesses should use the same infrastructure. The types of mobile information whether GSM and CDMA call the BTS network is the network. Honeycomb (cell) Enterprises need to coordinate to cover this honeycomb network nationwide.

Therefore, there is also a place to coordinate, and no coordination is needed. After observing the network plan, if the location overlaps, several hundred meters apart, it is recommended to install the same broadcast station to save costs. Enterprises can agree to install antena on a column (because of different frequencies, so they do not affect each other).

In fact, in terms of technology investment, telecommunication infrastructure has now done the sharing of infrastructure. For example, IN intelligent network meets roaming, both for prepaid and international subscribers. However, conditions for businesses. If only based on other enterprise infrastructure, only a few subscribers will be developed . "

The Minister also said: " It will be the most convenient. In general, businesses should look at the general planning of the country, the whole country will be a large honeycomb, each hole of that honeycomb, any column of any business . "

Recently, Viettel Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Hung proposed: " In 2007, the Ministry of Post and Telematics should officially put into action the common use of infrastructure programs. "

To illustrate in detail, Mr. Hung also exemplified: " Mobile companies that cover buildings are still not cooperating. In tall buildings, if a business is" in, "the president the house does not allow other businesses to enter, and many companies have not had an agreement on sharing the infrastructure in the building with the company later . "

As a result, a series of subscribers of mobile networks, and the fixed telephone network, are "out of network", affecting the people who are working in the building, if they don't want to. are partners, or business guests .

Meanwhile, coverage in large buildings is very expensive, up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if only one enterprise is deployed it will be very difficult. Many companies still accept high prices but are not ready to cooperate with other businesses.

Sharing infrastructure according to economic agreement

House installed BTS

In 2007 alone, Viettel Mobile will add 2,000 BTS stations, increasing the number of Viettel Mobile BTS stations to 5,000. At the conference to deploy the plan in the year, VNPT also assigned targets for two mobile networks VinaPhone and MobiFone to develop "" fold "3,000 BTS / network.

Thus, if taking into account the GSM mobile network infrastructure, this year, the total number of BTSs is up to 15,000 BTS nationwide. Large numbers are, but the "out of network" subscriber often happens. As long as the networks "bear" roaming and supporting each other (such as Vina, Mobi used to work in some localities), users will be assured of network quality and communication.

Specifically, only two networks VinaPhone and MobiFone have roaming coverage across the country, except for provinces and cities with large calls to compete such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh and Lang Son. Sharing the idea with Mr. Hung, Mr. Le Ngoc Minh - Director of VMS Mobile Information Company - MobiFone said: " Recently, the cooperation between the networks is very good. Among investment priorities, cooperation is connected. between mobile and fixed networks is great . "

Currently, enterprises are proposing to the Ministry of Post and Telematics to propose measures to coordinate with relevant ministries to allow parallel deployment of at least two technical systems: GSM or CDMA. Thus, when the investor builds a communication system that allows one of these two systems, there will be at least 3 mobile networks that can operate within .

In the past year, the "dialogue" of mobile networks is reflected by the signing of a connected economic contract, instead of the "asking, giving" administrative mechanism. So this year, it is sure that the cooperation process will start with businesses, instead of "spending money" on building infrastructure, will sit back with "rivals", putting their backs together. expand the network, with the lowest cost.

In fact, telecom enterprises have actively related and supported each other in the process of network development, such as the exchange of optical fiber and fiber exchange. Currently, VinaPhone and MobiFone (together with a subsidiary of Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group VNPT) have implemented roaming with each other. Viettel uses the same BTS with S-Fone and exchanges 3 cable lines to provinces with VTN; VNPT also has a contract to provide capacity for connecting and sharing infrastructure with Viettel.

On the big mobile network, VinaPhone, many subscribers said that when using the same infrastructure, this network will suffer "more disadvantages" than other juniors. In response to this information, VinaPhone representative also affirmed that: "Sharing and common ownership of the network infrastructure is an indispensable move that must be made between domestic mobile networks. And it will be time, this infrastructure is no longer a network, but a national resource. On the business side, we are willing to share and cooperate under economic agreements with other networks, including not with the Group. ''

General but still retaining . '' private capital ''

However, according to the opinion of the Ministry of Post and Telematics experts, sharing or sharing BTS stations is very difficult, because each technical characteristic, location, as well as the height of these stations is usually by enterprises. Self-regulated property. Other businesses are often hard to influence, so joint ownership is unlikely.

In the future, domestic mobile subscribers will be able to use inter-network roaming.

In urgent and urgent cases related to the general purpose of use to serve national interests such as storm and flood control, or roaming to serve national information security, ensuring communication for the network. .The Ministry will direct businesses to use each other's infrastructure. And this will be the work that requires unity, and high synchronization.

In addition, according to the experience of the world, sharing the mobile network infrastructure or "sharing the wave" also depends largely on the end device of the user. In many advanced countries, phones allow switching from GSM to CDMA technology and vice versa and allow subscribers to use multiple sims in one device, with different mobile networks. As such, mobile phones are always "roaming", and are not afraid of being "turned off or out of coverage" anywhere.

Recently, when answering a question about the appropriate time to share the infrastructure of mobile networks, Minister Do Trung Ta also predicted: "I predict about 5 years from now mobile networks will common use of infrastructure. At that time, we will also open the door to the world. When phone development becomes saturated, there is no competition in terms of attracting new customers, if we organize roaming, customers will be able to use the network with the best coverage. This operator can borrow waves from the other operator, because he is not afraid of losing his revenue. ''

The private capital of each network will be the quality of services, the value of the added services . The problem is to put on that common infrastructure, mobile networks instead of following the promotion trend, attracting customers. but investing in the network in the direction of linking with partners, consumers will enjoy long-term benefits, and peace of mind "not leaving the network".

Hoang Hung