|
Internet cafes face new competition in USB modems
An easy alternative for accessing the internet, the USB wireless internet modem is fast becoming the main competition for internet cafes and service centres in Vientiane.
The USB modem is gaining popularity with local people, especially students as it is easy to use anywhere, anytime, on notebooks or PCs, and is stealing away customers from internet cafes.
A member of staff at the University of Health Science, Mr Viengnakhone, said he used to have to go off campus to an internet cafe every other day to access the internet and stay there for at least an hour at a time.
“But now I don't have to because I've got a USB modem that I can use at home or any time when I am free,” he said yesterday.
An internet café at Naxay village, Xaysettha district, used to have a lot of local customers both during the day and in the evening, but numbers are now dwindling.
“Currently I get only a few people using my internet cafe during the daytime and a few more in the evening,” the cafe owner said.
Another internet service centre at Mixay village, Chanthabouly district, now only sees foreign customers passing through its doors. It used to have both Lao and foreign clients in the past.
“We can continue to provide a service here because our customers are mainly foreign travellers staying in this area, visiting the tourism sites of Vientiane,” the centre assistant said.
“I've noticed a few internet cafes have closed down recently due to falling customer numbers.”
Many internet cafe operators said some customers that have USB wireless internet modem still go to an internet cafe if they need to download large files such as movies, songs or applications.
“The internet signal in the cafes is much faster than the USB modem,” the Naxay internet cafe owner said.
“The USB modem is mainly used for the looking at the news, checking emails, and downloading and sending smaller files.”
Currently Laos has seven internet service providers, including four telecom companies, competing for a greater market share of mobile phone and internet services.
The four operators, Lao Telecommunications Company (LTC) , Star Telecom Co Ltd (Unitel), Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) and The Millicom Lao Company (Tigo), offer various promotions for low call costs, extended talk time and free bonus credit t o lure customers.
Currently, LTC and Unitel are the two major competitors in the telecom sector, and both have worked hard to improve their services and network systems and present themselves as the best option for customers.
Vientine Times
|
