EVN, Vietnamobile rush to meet 3G launch deadline

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Network infrastructure has been rapidly deployed by Vietnamese mobile operators EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom (Vietnamobile) to meet the rollout deadline stipulated by the terms of their concession. The consortium has been asked to launch third-generation services by June 6 and if it fails to meet the deadline, it will have to lose its VND1 billion (USD51, 371) deposit.

VND2 trillion in the construction of around 2,500 3G base transceiver stations has been invested so far by EVN and it plans to install an additional 5,000 under the second phase of its rollout plan.

Vietnamobile on the other hand is negotiating with foreign partners to buy additional 3G equipment. According to EVN officials, the company is expected to launch 3G services in mid-June, with services restricted to the country’s largest cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.