Wireless Federation

Natcom launches mobile services (Haiti)

On 09.19.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Haiti based network operator Natcom, a joint venture between Vietnam’s Viettel and the Haitian government, has officially opened its services to the public. According to reports, Natcom claims to have already signed up 250,000 mobile subscribers in a one-month trial offer ahead of its commercial launch. Further, sources claim that the arrival of Natcom in the telecom market has caused a reduction of 20% in mobile tariffs.

As per reports, Nguyen Manh Hung , Viettel’s deputy CEO said at a launch ceremony that Natcom’s next goal is to expand the fibre network to every area of Haiti, whilst Haitian president, Michel Martelly declared that the 3,000km cable that Natcom developed will contribute to a revolution in the telecommunications sector in this country.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Haiti • NATCOM • Vietnam • Viettel

Natcom mobile network completes first international voice call (Haiti)

On 01.05.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Vietnamese telco Viettel has revealed that its subsidiary in Haiti, National Telecom (Natcom) successfully completed its first international voice calls over its new Haitian mobile network so far with five active base stations with â€˜international standard quality’ connectivity demonstrated in a link-up with Vietnam in late December 2010.

The news came less than four months after work began on launching a GSM/3G cellular network from scratch, whilst Natcom is also replacing and expanding the ruined fixed line network of the former Teleco to provide national services including DSL broadband access.

In its announcement the company added that Natcom had also made successful domestic test calls over both its new fixed fibre-optic and mobile networks. Natcom, which has yet to interconnect its new networks with Haiti’s other telecoms operators, expects to launch commercial mobile services over a network of 1,000 base stations later in 2011.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • DSL broadband access • First international voice call • fixed fibre-optic • GSM • Haiti • Mobile • Mobile Network • NATCOM • Vietnam • Vietnamese telco • Viettel

Third mobile license to be awarded by November

On 10.27.10, In Mobile, By Editor

If reports are to be believed, the Mozambican government has confirmed that it will finish examining bids in the international public tender for the country’s third mobile phone license this week.

Transport and Communications Minister Paulo Zucula has declared that the winner of the tender will be announced by the first week of November. The bidders’ particular technical proposals have now been evaluated by the National Communications Institute, a process in which the bidders themselves participated.

Three out of 22 interested parties have been shortlisted for the license: TMN (the cellular unit of Portugal Telecom), UNI-Telecom (a joint venture between Angolan cellco Unitel and Mozambique’s Energy Capital) and a Vietnam-backed bidder named Movitel, which is rumoured to be spearheaded by military-run GSM operator Viettel.

As at June 2010 the country was home to 5.57 million mobile phone customers, of which mCel boasted the lion’s share: four million subscribers, or 71.9% of the market.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Angola • GSM • Mobile • Movitel • Mozambican government • Mozambique • National Communications Institute • Paulo Zucula • Portugal • third mobile phone license • TMN • Transport and Communications Minister • UNI-Telecom • Vietnam • Viettel

Viettel & IFC to invest in Haiti’s telecom sector

On 05.04.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vietnam’s largest mobile network operator, Viettel and World Bank’s IFC have signed a public-private partnership under which the operator will upgrade Haiti’s fixed line network in the country’s largest foreign direct investment after the earthquake.

US$59 million will be invested initially and upgrade services offered by fixed line operator T©l©communications d’Haiti (Teleco) and later an investment of an additional US$40 million over four years. A new company will be created for this purpose in which Viettel will hold a 60 percent stake and Banque de la R©publique d’Haiti (BRH), Teleco and their affiliates will control the remaining 40 percent.

Haitian government had IFC as an advisor while structuring the international bidding process for the partnership since June 2007. According to Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO, agreement reflects the extraordinary commitment of the Government of Haiti and Viettel to ensuring a safer and more sustainable future for the Haitian people and Economic growth is easier to achieve when people have the basic tools they need to communicate and connect with the world.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • Haiti • IFC • Mobile • North Amercia • operator • U.S • Vietnam • Viettel

Vietnam prepares ground for 4G

On 04.07.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Inputs have been seeked from the country’s telecom providers by Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) to design a plan for a 4G frequency band. Department of Wireless Frequency and Telecommunications has been assigned the responsibility for the task.

MIC will design the plan after it has collected the input by the end of this year. After this, telecoms operators of Vietnam will be allowed to choose whether to adopt WiMAX or Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology.

WiMax trial has already been carried out by a number of operators. State-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) launched the first pilots in the mountainous Lao Cai region in October 2006. This was followed by military-owned Viettel’s trial in Hanoi in December 2006.

FPT Telecom, EVN Telecom, Viettel, Saigon Postel and VNPT’s wholly-owned subsidiary Vietnam Data Communications Company (VDC) were granted the license by MIC in March 2008 for a year-long trial of mobile WiMAX. Temporary spectrum allocations in the 2.3GHz-2.4GHz range FPT, EVN and Viettel. VDC was given a block in the 2.5GHz band.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • ASIA • EVN Telecom • FPT Telecom • Long Term Evolution • operator • Vietnam • Viettel • WiMAX

Viettel becomes third 3G operator in Vietnam

On 03.29.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vietnamese military-owned telecoms operator Viettel became the third 3G network operator in the country with the official launch of its third-generation mobile services. The other two 3G operators are Vinaphone and MobiFone.

According to Tong Viet Trung, deputy general director of Viettel, after the deployment of 8,000 base transceiver stations (BTSs), operator’s 3G networks covers 63 provinces and cities nationwide. Viettel hopes to raise the number to 20,000 by the end of this year. Video calling and mobile broadband at download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps along with several other services are offered over its 3G network.

The company has also begun to offer Apple’s iPhone 3G and 3GS for the first time. Viettel started the trial of its 3G networks last year in 20 provinces and it has already reached the subscribers mark of one million.

Viettel was awarded a license to operate 3G services by the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) in April 2009, along with Vinaphone, MobiFone and a consortium between EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Apple • ASIA • iPhone • Ministry of Information and Communication • MobiFone • operator • Vietnam • Viettel • Vinaphone

Viettel aims to become third 3G W-CDMA provider of Vietnem

On 02.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Viettel, the military-owned telecoms company of Vietnam has expressed its plan to become the third 3G W-CDMA provider of the country by March, 2009. According to the director of Viettel’s HCMC branch, Tran Minh Huy, next generation services will be launched commercially once trials in more than 20 provinces have been concluded.

100,000 3G base stations during 2010 will be established by the firm in this regard.

Earlier, CDMA-based services in October and December 2009 had been launched by rival mobile operators Vinaphone and Mobifone respectively.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • ASIA • CDMA • operator • Vietnam • Viettel • Vinaphone

Viettel to invest in Haiti investment despite earthquake

On 02.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Emphasizing its commitment towards the disaster hit Haiti, Vietnam’s largest cellular network operator by subscribers, Viettel has announced to continue the planned investment amidst catastrophic damage due to earthquake. Viettel will invest USD60 million to supplement Teleco’s USD40 million investment in the project.

According to deputy general director of Viettel, Nguyen Manh Quan, earlier this year, the company inked a deal to partner Haitian incumbent fixed line operator Teleco in a project installing a 2,000km terrestrial fibre-optic cable network which would bring broadband internet access to remote parts of the island nation.

Just before the lethal earthquake struck the country, Viettel has been on the verge of completing a deal to acquire a majority stake in Haiti’s cash-strapped PSTN provider in January.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • fibre-optic • Haiti • North America • operator • PSTN • Vietnam • Viettel

3G network tested by Viettel’s Metfone

On 01.28.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Viettel, operating under Metfone banner in Cambodia has started the test of its third-generation mobile network with a view to launching later this year. Installation of 1,500 3G base stations in the first quarter of 2010 has been hoped by company which also plans to expand coverage to all districts.

13,000km of fibre-optic cable and 3,000 2G cell sites will also be rolled out during 1Q10. Metfone aims to capture 40% of the mobile market, as well as 80% of the wireline and broadband internet sectors in 2010.

A turnover of USD70 million has been generated by Viettel from its operations in Cambodia and Laos in 2009, although, according to Metfone’s managing director, Nguyen Duy Tho, the company had met its Cambodia revenue target for 2009.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 2G • 3G Base Stations • ASIA • Cambodia • Laos • Metfone • Viettel

Viettel hopes to offer iPhone from March; posts 80% increase in 2009 revenue

On 01.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With an 80% year-on-year increase, Viettel’s 2009 full-year revenue reached VND60 trillion (USD3.2 billion). 60% increase in the turnover is eyed by the Vietnamese military-owned telecoms company in 2010. Besides, the company is also planning to invest in a total of 15 countries by 2015.

Cambodia and Laos also receives service from Viettel with revenue from these markets reaching USD70 million in 2009. An agreement with Apple is also on the verge of finalization after which Viettel may see the launch of its iPhone in Vietnam from March, thus, becoming the country’s official distributor of the handset.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • ASIA • Cambodia • iPhone • Laos • Launch • Vietnam • Viettel