Vietnamese mobile users able to switch among operators

Vietnamese mobile users are about to be able to switch among network operators as three major mobile service providers will run technical tests in December for switching networks without changing phone numbers.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has worked with network providers to finalize plans for the service, which is expected to be officially put into operation at the beginning of 2017, reported Vietnam News, an edition under Vietnam's state-run news agency on Saturday.

It was estimated that with the participation of three major network providers, including Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone, the service would be available to more than 90 percent of all mobile subscribers.

Regarding concerns that subscribers would change network providers regularly to enjoy promotions, the Ministry of Information and Communications would propose regulations about the timing of switching networks and possibly add switching fees to prevent this.

Pham Hong Hai, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications was quoted as saying that subscribers, for instance, would be allowed to change networks only 90 days after they had previously switched carriers.

There were some 136.9 million mobile subscribers in Vietnam in the first six months of 2015, an increase of 14.3 percent year-on- year, according to the General Statistics Office.