VinaPhone launches first 3G services

In the short term, VinaPhone intends to provide six 3G services including high-speed mobile network, mobile broadband, video call, mobile camera, mobile TV (15 mobile TV channels) and 3G Portal.

These services will be available in 13 major cities and provinces including Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Thừa Thiên Huế, Đà Nẵng, Khánh Hòa, Hồ Chí Minh City, Cần Thơ, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương and Vũng Tàu.

The Vietnamese operator plans a nationwide service expansion next year.

VinaPhone contracted with Ericsson to run 3G network in southern provinces; China's ZTE for the central region, and Motorola for the northern region.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) licensed VinaPhone, together with Viettel, the military-owned mobile operator; MobiFone, another State-run operator; and a joint venture between Hà Nội Telecom and EVN Telecom to launch 3G services.    

By Khánh Phương