New Mobile Network Launched in Vietnam

Vietnam has a new mobile phone network as VimpelCom's Beeline brand was launched in the country. The mobile network is operated by a joint venture between the Russian company and the local GTEL Corporation.

"With the start of our operations in Vietnam we are strengthening our positions in South-East Asia. The Vietnamese telecom market has a great potential with a young and dynamic population of more than 86 million people and a fast growing economy. Our partnership with such a reliable and professional local partner as GTEL Corp helped us achieve the result we had planned",- said Boris Nemsic, Chief Executive Officer, VimpelCom. "The launch in Vietnam follows our successful start in Cambodia where we have already commenced operations earlier this year", - noticed Vladimir Riabokon, Executive Vice President, International Business Development, VimpelCom.

At the initial stage Beeline services will be available in the largest provinces of Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang - with more than 15 million people. By the end of 2009, GTEL-Mobile plans to provide coverage in more than 40 provinces of Vietnam with the population of about 41 million.

"We are very pleased that according to the research conducted by Vietnamese agency «Consumer Behavior & Insight», Beeline had achieved fairly high awareness after a three week teaser campaign. Beeline's brand is recognized by 55% respondents in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Such results and fast pace of network deployment became possible due to high-level expertise of our international team ", - said Alexey Blyumin, Chief Executive Officer, GTEL-Mobile.

VimpelCom has a 40% interest in the joint-venture, after an investment of US$267 million.  GTEL, a Vietnamese state-owned enterprise and GTEL TSC have an equity interest of 51% and 9%, respectively, in the joint-venture.

Posted to the site on 20th July 2009