Mobifone begins offering 3G services

VMS-Mobifone officially started their third-generation network service (3G) yesterday, December 15, becoming the second provider in the nation to offer the service after Vinaphone.

Mobifone’s 3G will provide four main services: Video Call, Mobile Internet, Mobile TV and Fast Connect.

It is expected that in the first year, Mobifone will provide 3G coverage to almost 100 per cent of urban cities and provinces. In the next three years, 3G will cover suburban areas.

Mobifone director Le Ngoc Minh said Mobifone used 3G data transmission service with HSDPA technology (High Speed Download Package Access). Such technology allows subscribers to access the internet, email and receive digital content service at a speed of 7.2Mbps.

For Video Calls, the charge for pre-paid subscribers is VND2,000 per minute during peak-hours and VND1,000 per minute off-peak. Charges for post-paid subscribers is VND1,500 per minute during peak-hours and VND750 per minute during off-peak.

According to Mobifone representatives, Mobile Internet service has different charge packages ranging from VND3,000 per day to VND50,000 per 30 days with a maximum speed of 7.2Mbps.

For Mobile TV, Mobifone 3G subscribers can watch 32 TV channels including VTV1, VTV3, Cartoon network, HBO, Star Movies and Fashion TV.

They can also access video-on-demand and music-on-demand.

To help subscribers have comfortable access to 3G service, Mobifone will charge Video Call services at the price of normal calls and cut 50 per cent from other 3G package costs such as Mobile Internet and Mobile TV until March 15, 2010.

Fast Connect’s FC2 package stands free of charge until June 30, 2010.

Officials said Mobifone, under its agreement with more than 50 3G providers in the world, can now provide 3G international roaming service to customers.

Mobifone stated their 3G service used a 2.100 MHz frequency band to keep subscribers’ communications smooth when moving in regions covered by 2G and 3G networks.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Tags: Mobifone, Vietnam Telecom