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South Korean telecom giant to stay with S-Fone
SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest mobile-phone operator, will continue to invest in S-Fone mobile phone services in Vietnam under a new joint venture with Saigon Postel Corp, officials said Saturday.
The announcement of the joint venture, developed from an earlier project under the form of Business Cooperation Contract (BCC), has ended speculation about the withdrawal of SK Telecom from S-Fone.
The new development makes S-Fone the second telecom joint-venture in Vietnam. The first one is GTEL-Mobile, set up by state-owned Global Telecommunications Corp. and Russia’s second-largest mobile phone company OAO VimpelCom. GTEL entered the domestic market in July with the Beeline brand.
Launched in Vietnam in 2003, S-Fone now has nearly 7.3 million subscribers. The company said it would expand its services using CDMA 2000-1x technology next year. It also plans to offer 3G services in the future.
“3G” refers to third-generation mobile networks which offer high-speed access to the Internet, email and video. Vietnam has so far granted licenses to VinaPhone, MobiFone, military-run Viettel and a venture between Hanoi Telecom and EVN Telecom to offer the services.
Speculation about the withdrawal of SK Telecom began in August when Saigon Postel Corporation said it would look for a new partner to maintain S-Fone services. By then SK Telecom had supplied much of the network’s technology and expertise.
thanhnien, Agencies
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