There are four 3G network operators in Vietnam. They are looking at an early repayment of their license fee deposits so as to aid themselves in rolling out funds for the deployment of their respective networks.

Viettel, VinaPhone, MobiFone, and the EVN Telecom/Hanoi Telecom joint venture constitute the group of networks that are looking to deploy 3G; having deposited a collective amount of $391.87 million to the government as license fees; to be refunded once the respective 3G networks are deployed. Although Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone have had 50% of their deposits repaid to them, they are pushing for an early redemption of the remaining amounts.

As per sources, the 3G networks are experiencing a cash crunch in their attempt at expanding their networks. They are betting on license fee deposits repayment to fund the building of their respective 3G network infrastructures.

30,334 BTS stations for 3G services constitute the collective number, built by the network operators while close to 8 million customers have been signed up so far.

A Viettel official has been reported to have said that 80 per cent of the funds for rolling out 3G services were financed by way of bank loans; as it waits for its share of deposit repayment.

The Department of Planning has been advised by the Minister of Information and Communications, Le Doan Hop to step up the disbursement for 3G service projects.

VNPT (Vietnam Post and Communication Group) has submitted three different plans to the government to comply with the new ownership rules.

New rules came into effect from 1 June that restricts ownership in telecommunications firms. A company that owns over 20% of equity in one telecommunications firm cannot also own more 20% in another telco, and VNPT fully owns VinaPhone and MobiPhone.

According to reports, the first plan will see VinaPhone and MobiFone merge, the second plan proposes to privatize one of the two mobile operators, and the third plan will see the whole group restructuring.

VinaPhone, which operates in Vietnam, has expanded its bill payment options with the launch of MoMo electronic wallet.

The MoMo wallet enables users to pay for VinaPhone bills through th­eir mobile phone. VinaPhone is also planning to launch more applications for th­e service to meet demand for electronic payments for th­e 30,000 customers now using th­e MoMo electronic wallet.

Beeline Vietnam has introduced a Facebook SMS service. Subscibers can now use the service to update their status, send a wall posts, send messages, as well as other functionality via SMS.

Every single SMS to the service will be charged at US$0.01.

Viettel, which is a Vietnamese military-owned telecommunications company, will be cooperating with coastal provinces and cities to set up a tsunami warning system.

According to reports, Viettel earlier established ten warning locations in Da Nang and successfully tested them earlier this month. The company will now work with 28 coastal provinces and cities to survey locations for establishing further warning systems.