The Hanoi Times - VNPT technicians check a switching system. The country’s telecom sector earned a revenue of nearly VND93 trillion (US$5.6 billion) in 2008, up 39.1 per cent over the previous year. There are now almost as many phones in Viet Nam as there are people.As many as 85 per cent of the country’s population are mobile phone users, with 97.5 per cent of the population able to access phone services either through a mobile service provider or a fixed line, according to the General Statistics Office(GSO).This puts Viet Nam on a par with many other developed countries in terms of telephone use.More than 3.2 million new subscribers were registered last month alone, bringing the total number of telephone subscribers in Viet Nam to 82.5 million, according to the GSO.The country’s telecom sector earned a revenue of nearly VND93 trillion (US$5.6 billion) - up 39.1 per cent for last year, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.Viet Nam’s two biggest firms, the VNPT and Viettel, which control over 90 per cent of the telecom market, said the reason for the gains was the result of a fast-growing customer base.The Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT), owners of MobiFone and Vinaphone - the country’s oldest mobile carriers, posted a twofold increase in its profits compared to last year.MobiFone’s revenue in 2008 reached VND 17.5 trillion with a total profit of VND 5.8 trillion. Vinaphone earned VND14 trillion last year, a year-on-year growth rate of 35 per cent.MobiFone and Vinaphone have 30 million and 16 million mobile subscribers, respectively.Meanwhile, military-run telecom company Viettel said its gross profit last year was double that of 2007, reaching nearly VND8 trillion ($471 million).The Ha Noi-based firm earned a revenue of more than VND33 trillion last year, 26 per cent above the combined revenue for the eight years up to 2007, the company revealed in a statement. It did not give a net profit figure.Last year Viettel expanded its mobile phone network to cover the entire country, serving 28 million subscribers or 40 per cent of Viet Nam’s total mobile subscribers. Its 51,300km optic cable network connected all communes, the statement said.Viettel is running a $30 million internet data joint venture with Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, of which it owns 70 per cent.In 2006, it became Viet Nam’s first telecoms firm to invest abroad when it started Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in Cambodia, and later mobile phone, fixed-line and internet services.Growing internet useInternet use in Viet Nam also grew significantly during 2008, with 6.7 million new internet subscribers over the course of the year - up 28.4 per cent from the year before.Boasting 20.67 million internet users, Viet Nam is now one of the top 20 countries in the world in terms of internet use.This is a 60 per cent increase from the same period last year
The Hanoi Times - VNPT technicians check a switching system. The country’s telecom sector earned a revenue of nearly VND93 trillion (US$5.6 billion) in 2008, up 39.1 per cent over the previous year. There are now almost as many phones in Viet Nam as there are people.
As many as 85 per cent of the country’s population are mobile phone users, with 97.5 per cent of the population able to access phone services either through a mobile service provider or a fixed line, according to the General Statistics Office(GSO).
This puts Viet Nam on a par with many other developed countries in terms of telephone use.
More than 3.2 million new subscribers were registered last month alone, bringing the total number of telephone subscribers in Viet Nam to 82.5 million, according to the GSO.
The country’s telecom sector earned a revenue of nearly VND93 trillion (US$5.6 billion) - up 39.1 per cent for last year, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Viet Nam’s two biggest firms, the VNPT and Viettel, which control over 90 per cent of the telecom market, said the reason for the gains was the result of a fast-growing customer base.
The Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT), owners of MobiFone and Vinaphone - the country’s oldest mobile carriers, posted a twofold increase in its profits compared to last year.
MobiFone’s revenue in 2008 reached VND 17.5 trillion with a total profit of VND 5.8 trillion. Vinaphone earned VND14 trillion last year, a year-on-year growth rate of 35 per cent.
MobiFone and Vinaphone have 30 million and 16 million mobile subscribers, respectively.
Meanwhile, military-run telecom company Viettel said its gross profit last year was double that of 2007, reaching nearly VND8 trillion ($471 million).
The Ha Noi-based firm earned a revenue of more than VND33 trillion last year, 26 per cent above the combined revenue for the eight years up to 2007, the company revealed in a statement. It did not give a net profit figure.
Last year Viettel expanded its mobile phone network to cover the entire country, serving 28 million subscribers or 40 per cent of Viet Nam’s total mobile subscribers. Its 51,300km optic cable network connected all communes, the statement said.
Viettel is running a $30 million internet data joint venture with Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, of which it owns 70 per cent.
In 2006, it became Viet Nam’s first telecoms firm to invest abroad when it started Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in Cambodia, and later mobile phone, fixed-line and internet services.
Growing internet use
Internet use in Viet Nam also grew significantly during 2008, with 6.7 million new internet subscribers over the course of the year - up 28.4 per cent from the year before.
Boasting 20.67 million internet users, Viet Nam is now one of the top 20 countries in the world in terms of internet use.
This is a 60 per cent increase from the same period last year
