Vietnam Needs More Mobile Phone Numbers
Vietnam's three mobile phone networks, VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel, have asked the Ministry of Posts and Telematics (MPT) for more network codes. VinaPhone is now using two network codes, 091 and 094, MobiFone with two codes, 090 and 093, and Viettel with 097 and 098. As the numbers of mobile subscribers are increasing, those networks have asked the MPT for two more network codes each.
In principle, each network code is equivalent to 10 million phone numbers. At the current situation, whenever mobile phone networks develop 4-5 million new subscribers, they will have to ask for new codes to avoid a shortage of phone numbers.
The three mobile phone networks have declared to reach 10 million subscribers each. A representative of the MPT said that the ministry would grant new network codes for VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel.
The Mobile World subscriber database reports that the Vietnamese networks ended last year with a little under 18.8 million customers, representing a population penetration level of around 22%. The market grew by over 10 million new customers during 2006 alone."
Posted to the site on 1st May 2007
