VietNamNet Bridge – By the end of September 2008, Vietnam had 70.4 million telephone subscribers, a teledensity of 82 phones per 100 residents. Mobile phone subscribers accounted for nearly 81%, equivalent to 57 million.

Of the more than 70 million subscribers, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) services 55.4%, followed by Viettel with 34%.

According to statistics recently released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the country had 3.7 million new subscribers in September, an increase of 362% year on year, raising the total number of new phone service users so far this year to 23.4 million.

Of the more than 70 million subscribers, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) services 55.4%, followed by Viettel with 34%.

In June, the Ministry of Information and Communications conducted a survey of active subscribers of all mobile networks in Vietnam. The survey showed that by the end of June 2008, VinaPhone, MobiFone, Viettel and S-Fone had more than 48 million subscribers, of which, pre-paid subscribers accounted for over 90%.

According to this survey, Viettel was the top network with 19.42 million subscribers, followed by MobiFone with 13.4 million, VinaPhone 12.1 million, and S-Fone with 3.14 million.

The Ministry of Information and Communications said the Vietnamese telecom market has developed hotly in recent years. With six service providers, competition in this market is getting fierce, pushing charges down. In 2007 alone, the number of new subscribers exceeded 12 million, equivalent to the total number of subscribers one decade ago.

(Source: VNE)