VietNamNet Bridge – Mobile network operators, which, ignoring users’ complaints in deciding on raising 3G service fees two months ago, have cut down the fee again in an effort to retain 3G subscribers. The battle of wits between network operators and customers continues.

Le Tung in Cau Giay district in Hanoi has received a message from a network operator which says that the service provider offers a 30 percent service fee discount to the subscribers who register to use the service in the time between December 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014.

This spells that from now on, Tung only has to pay VND50,000 a month in fees for the same service instead of VND70,000. In other words, the 3G service fee has dropped to VND50,000 again, which is equal to the fee before October 16, when mobile network operators raised 3G fees after the strong arguments with customers.

Tung said this is the second time he received the message with the same content. The first message came earlier this month. Prior to that, Tung decided to stop using 3G services as a protest against the network operators’ decision on raising fees.

Another subscriber, who canceled the service in late October, said she received a similar message. However, she said she does not intend to resume the service use.

The representative of a mobile network operator has confirmed that it is running a sale promotion program targeting a group of customers, under which a 30 percent discount rate is offered.

The senior executive stressed that the program is applied only to a limited number of customers, and that only those, who receive the messages, can enjoy the preferences.

Only one mobile network operator of the three, which have also raised the 3G service fee since October 16, is running the program. The other two said they do not plan any similar program.

The discount offered by the network operator seems to be not understandable to many people. Just some days ago, local newspapers, quoting high ranking officials from the Ministry of Information and Communication as saying that the 3G service fees would be raised further to help service providers break even and make profit.

However, a telecom expert commented that the mobile network operator has taken a strategic move when running the sale promotion program.

“I believe that it (the mobile network operator) has decided to cut down the prices after considering the redundant 3G capacity,” he said. “By offering discounts, they can attract more customers.”

The expert commented that though the preferential service fee is applied only for a certain period, the move by the network operator shows its worries about the decrease in the number of 3G service subscribers after the price hike.

There has been no official report about the number of 3G subscribers having canceled the service after October 16. However, analysts believe the number is relatively high.

Contrary to all predictions, customers keep indifferent about the service fee decreases.

A customer said he has realized that he has still been okay in the last two months, without 3G. In fact, 3G service, with the low quality, did not help him much in work. Therefore, he has not met any problem since the day he canceled the service.

Compiled by C. V