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3G operators aim for quality service
Quality will be the key to gaining market share and staying in business when newly licensed third generation (3G) mobile phone operators begin their services within the next few months.
The Ministry of Information and Communications granted 3G mobile phone operator’s licences in mid August to Viettel, MobiFone, VinaPhone and EVN Telecom-Ha Noi Telecom.
Experts tip that unlike the 2G service, 3G customers will demand quality and operators who don’t meet the demand are likely to go out of business.
Also, the Ministry of Information and Communications said it would closely supervise operators to ensure they fulfilled their commitments to quality with the prospect of a large fine for defaulters, to be deducted from their deposits.
The total of the deposits of the four mobile phone operators was VND8.1 trillion (US$450 million), of which Viettel accounted for VND4.5 trillion.
Among the operators, MobiFone was considered to be at the greatest advantage as a pioneer in the application of new technology and a quality award winner.
MobiFone deputy director Do Vu Anh said that in launching its 3G service in December, his company would try to maintain its No.1 position for service quality in Viet Nam.
MobiFone’s 3G network would cover 100 per cent of urban areas in 63 provinces and cities at the time of inauguration, he said. After that, it would bring 3G services to other residential areas, then suburbs and rural users.
Anh said that once MobiFone’s 3G service was launched, "2G service quality in big cities will be also improved greatly".
He said, however, that MobiFone would not invest massively into the new service so it could better provide service quality at a reasonable price.
Viettel general director Hoang Anh Xuan confirmed quality would be decisive.
"If you are not careful, 3G may be a trap that will ruin your business," Xuan said.
Viettel would invest up to nearly VND12.8 trillion ($719 million) in the 3G network within three years and committed to provide 3G services to rural areas, he said.
Meanwhile, VinaPhone will supply the 3G services by October 15, one month from the time its licence takes effect.
To meet the commitment, VinaPhone earlier this week signed a contract with Motorola’s Home&Networks Mobility business to deploy a 3G network to provide advanced high speed mobile data services in key areas of Ha Noi.
Under the contract, over the next 12 months Motorola will upgrade Vinaphone’s GSM network with 3G radio access network equipment in northern Viet Nam, including Ha Noi.
EVN Telecom-Ha Noi Telecom has not provided information about their 3G plans. According to their licence, they must offer 3G services within nine months of the licence taking effect.
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