The Ministry of Information and Communications on November 8 explained
its recent proposal to allow an increase in 3G mobile internet fees by
telecom companies Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone.
At a press conference, Deputy Minister Le Nam Thang said that telecom
companies had originally set prices lower than cost to attract users.
They raised the price of their 3G packages on October
16 after receiving approval from the ministry. Since its enforcement,
users complained about the hike and the quality of the service.
However, now that the number of subscribers has risen, they claim they need to raise prices for “re-investment”.
Reports sent to the Ministry from telecom companies indicate that the
planned average cost for 3G service this year was 184.4 VND (0.008 USD)
per one MB, including valued added tax (VAT), while the average price in
the domestic market was 100 VND (0.004 USD).
When
being asked about the 3G low quality, Thang said that the ministry
understood that customers wanted quality to match the price.
“It is true that the service quality in some areas is low. Companies
cannot invest to improve the infrastructure without money. Besides, the
ministry will issue 3G quality standards this year,” he said.
Thang said that the telecom equipment could be only used for two to
three years because a new technology generation seemed to appear every
few years.
“We carried out 2G network from 1995,
implemented 3G from 2009 and the next generation network will appear in
the next six or seven years. The ministry is expected to do research and
give licences to companies to develop new generations, such as 4G or
5G, after 2015,” he said.
Pham Hong Hai, head of the
Department of Telecommunications, said that the number of 3G
subscribers had surged to 18.9 million.
This had
outgrown the capacity to provide a quality service. He said that
telecoms had adjusted 3G fee to expand the network and improve the
service quality.
“The service fee hike is reasonable
and does not make a great impact in the Vietnamese market. The new fee
will ensure a competitive business environment,” he said.-VNA