Vinaphone offers first 3G service in Vietnam

National telecom giant Vinaphone on Monday launched its third generation mobile phone service in Vietnam’s biggest cities, becoming the first 3G provider in the country.

The service, including broadband internet, video call and mobile television, is first available in 13 major cities and provinces. It will be expanded to other localities later.

Vinaphone said customers can activate 3G service buy sending a subscription message to the operator.

VinaPhone, MobiFone, military-run Viettel and a venture between Hanoi Telecom and EVN Telecom received licenses to offer 3G services earlier this year.

Both Mobifone and Viettel said they would officially launch their services in December. Mobifone is expected to offer its 3G service on a trial basis next month to about 300,000 customers.

Both Mobifone and Vinaphone are run by state-owned Vietnam Post & Telecommunications.

Mobile phone users account for 87.9 percent of Vietnam’s 110 million phone subscribers, the Ministry of Information and Communications said last month.

Hoang Ly

thanhnien

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