Vietnamese telecommunications giants VinaPhone, Viettel and MobiFone will deploy mobile number portability (MNP) services starting this Friday (November 16).

MNP enables mobile telephone users to retain their numbers when switching from one mobile network operator to another.

The Ministry of Information and Communications set an oriented rate for the service at VND60,000 (US$2.5).

Representatives of Viettel and MobiFone said at a meeting on Tuesday that their network transfer fee would also be VND60,000.

Meanwhile, VinaPhone said it would announce the rate this Thursday. The rate is not expected to be higher than the amount announced by its competitors.

The services will be applied for postpaid mobile subscribers first then added for prepaid subscribers next year.

The MNP services will increase competitiveness among telecommunications enterprises and protect the interests of consumers when they want to change service providers.

This is also one of the measures Viet Nam has committed to under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

According to statistics from the Viet Nam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) under the Ministry of Information and Communications, as of May this year, Viet Nam had approximately 124 million mobile subscribers.

About five per cent are postpaid subscribers.

Telecommunications enterprises are allowed to refuse to transfer the network for subscribers whose service registration information is inaccurate if there is a complaint or dispute over the use of the service or a contract breach.

This is a way to encourage users to register subscription information accurately, contributing to minimise pre-activated SIM cards and helping tighten management of subscribers.

All services which customers used on their previous network will be canceled when switching to a new network.

Customers will have to register for new services from their new provider. — VNS