The Vietnam Internet Performance Report Q2 released by Ookla, the global leader in testing application, showed that Viettel was the fastest mobile operator in Vietnam.

Four mobile network operators of Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone and Gtel signed an agreement in Hanoi on June 10 to share about 1,200 base transceiver stations (BTS).

VietNamNet Bridge - Unlike most developed markets, Vietnamese mostly buy smartphones from retailers.

VietNamNet Bridge - Locked iPhones, which have been hot products in Vietnam, have lost their luster.

VietNamNet Bridge - Fixed-line phones are no longer used by most Vietnamese families, while the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) is alone in the path, incurring a loss of trillions of dong. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Apple SIM is considered a technological breakthrough, but it could be an obstacle to mobile network operators’ business.

The three biggest mobile networks – Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone – now hold 95 percent of the Vietnamese mobile telecom market. However, small network operators believe there are still opportunities.

VietNamNet Bridge - Nguyen Viet Dung, CEO of Viettel Telecom, noted that it is small firms, such as Zalo, not large mobile network operators like Viettel, which are now leading the OTT (over the top) market. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Apple’s latest-generation iPad which was introduced to the public recently has received much praise from Vietnamese technology experts.

VietNamNet Bridge - The biggest rivals of domestic mobile network operators are not other domestic mobile network operators but are rather cross-border multi-service providers who will be their most formidable rivals.

VietNamNet Bridge - Mobile network operators blame the low 3G service quality to people’s unregulated use of signal amplifiers. Meanwhile, people say they have to use the amplifiers because of weak mobile waves.

The three largest Vietnamese mobile network operators have announced everything is ready to provide 4G services. Users’ expected spending on the services would account for 5 percent of monthly average income, or VND170,000 a month.

VietNamNet Bridge - Mobile network operators still have not found technical solutions to prevent spam messages.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The three mobile network operators dominating the telecom market, namely VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel, have unanimously planned to raise the international incoming call charges to UScent8.1.

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 Trans Pacific Strategic Partnership Agreement (TPP) would bring big disadvantages to domestic mobile network operators, because of the TPP’s provisions on creating most favorable conditions for ISPs and removing all the barriers.

3G service users were dazzled because of the 40 percent service fee increase in November when mobile network operators followed up with one more “blow” on them by blocking free OTT (over the top) services.

VietNamNet Bridge – Chinese network operators really want to expand their business to Vietnam and other South East Asian markets, but they are fearful of the cutthroat competition in the Vietnamese market.

Experts believe that the launching of Viber’s version in Vietnamese language and the version for computers would have direct impacts on the OTTs with the focus on basic communications, rather than on the mobile platforms OTTs.