Over nine months after inaugurating 3G networks, three largest mobile networks in Vietnam have just seven million users, half of the figure they made public previously.

At a meeting with mobile networks early this week, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) announced that Viettel has 1.5 million 3G subscribers, Vinaphone 1.5 million and MobiFone 4 million.

MoIC’s Telecommunication Department Deputy Director Nguyen Xuan Tru confirmed the statistics are accurate and reflects the panorama of the 3G market in Vietnam.

Doan Quang Hoan, MoIC Department of Radio Frequency Chief, warned of the waste of 3G frequency in Vietnam when customers mainly use 3G to access the Internet while value-added services are not effectively exploited.

All four providers of 3G services provide similar things: Mobile Internet, Video Call, Mobile Camera, Mobile TV, etc.

MoIC’s Telecommunication Department Director Pham Hong Hai observed that, throughout the world, 3G is mainly used for music downloads.

Before joining the 3G race, telecom firms met difficulties, but they had invested hundreds of millions of dollars already. They expected to reclaim their capital five years later, but if the 3G market continues to develop at this pace, the target will be much farther away.

PV