3G network tested by Viettel’s Metfone
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.
Viettel hopes to offer iPhone from March; posts 80% increase in 2009 revenue
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.
Teletalk receives USD211 million loan from China
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: USD211 million in loans will be provided to Bangladeshi state-run mobile operator Teletalk , by the China’s government to develop its future 3G network. Soft loan at an interest rate of 2% will be provided by China Exim Bank in the next two years with a repayment time of around 20 years.
In return, all the equipment for the 3G expansion by Teletalk would have to be imported from Chinese vendors, and CMEC would have the authority to select the suppliers.
Recently, Teletalk received a proposal from Vietnam’s Viettel for an investment of USD250 million, however, no further developments have yet been announced.
Viettel to sell iPhone in Vietnam
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A deal has been signed between Apple Inc. and Military Telecom Corp, Viettel to sell the iPhone in Vietnam. Viettel is the country’s top operator telecommunication and mobile operations with a revenue of VND60 trillion ($3.24 billion) last year and targeting $15 billion in 2015.
According to Viettel Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Hung, both sides have agreed to sell the iPhone but the details regarding the timetable have not been divulged.
Viettel eyes 60% stake in Teletalk (Bangladesh)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vietnamese telecom operator Viettel has shown interest in a tie up with Teletalk, a Bangladeshi state-owned mobile firm. According to Bangladeshi Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Teletalk has received a proposal from Viettel for a partnership; however, the talk of the deal has not yet started.
Viettel is eyeing 60% stake in Teletalk for USD300 million while a government committee is scrutinizing the plan to give a ‘positive nod’ to the sale of a majority stake to Viettel.
Vinaphone to launch Vietnam’s first 3G Network.
VinaPhone, the Vietnamese mobile operator has announced that its 3G network will be launched on October 12th. Vinaphone will be first to go live on 3G in Vietnam.
VinaPhone’s deputy director Ho Duc Thang told a media house that Vinaphone has finalised the installation of thousands of 3G transceiver base stations will announce 3G tarriffs on the day of launch.
Vinaphone officially launched in June 2006 and currently has over 13 million subscribers. Vinaphone is among the top three mobile operators in Vietnam now.
Motorola has earlier announced that it had won the 3G upgrade contract from Vinaphone.
Three more operators in Vietnam have a 3G license – Viettel, EVN Telecom-Hanoi Telecom and Mobifone are testing their networks and will be launching shortly.
Vietnam to privatise telecom groups next year
HANOI (AFP) – Vietnam’s three major telecom companies are expected to be partly privatised next year with the majority of the stakes remaining under government control, officials said.
State-owned Vinaphone, MobiFone and the army’s Viettel said earlier this year they would open their mobile activities to the public without providing any firm calendar dates.
“We plan to equitise them next year, according to a program approved by the government in 2005,” said Nguyen Khac Lap, office manager of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.
“We have set no specific date for each company. There are a lots of things to do before the plan is achieved,” he said.
Vinaphone and MobiFone, both subsidiaries of state-owned giant Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corp (VNPT), currently lead the market.
But the Vietnam Military Electronics and Telecommunications Co. has won widespread praise for its dynamic approach to business since it started operations in late 2004.
The country is considered the second fastest growing telecoms market in the world after China. There are about 13 million mobile phone users in the country of more than 84 million people.
Several foreign groups have shown interests in the sector, among whom French France Telecom, Swedish Comvik and Norwegian Telenor.
Vietnamese banks, investment funds and other local private companies have also followed the process closely, observers said.
But major details remain to be settled. The government has not yet decided on the size of a maximum stake foreign investors can acquire.
“We advised authorities to choose one strategic partner for each company, someone that would invest and bring methods, technology and know-how,” an industry insider said, asking not to be named.
“In a second phase, they could also list the group at the stock exchange and open it to other smaller investors.”
“The privatisation will be a long and progressive process,” he added saying the 2007 target was not impossible but might prove difficult to reach.
Vietnam’s telecom sector has experienced major changes over recent years and will face further pressure once Vietnam joins the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Privatisation of the sector has been fiercely negotiated with foreign countries, especially the United States, and is part of Vietnam’s commitment to join the world trade body.
“The integration of the equitised companies would lower the state’s investment burden, sharing the costs among investors,” said the English-language daily Vietnam News, citing the deputy minister of posts and telecommunications.
Internet and the landlines network will remain entirely controlled by the Vietnamese state.
Source- http://au.news.yahoo.com
