120 million prepaid subscribers can switch networks and keep their numbers from today
Network operators said they are ready to allow prepaid subscribers to transfer their numbers from January 1, 2019.
Viettel, MobiFone, and VinaPhone have just announced the application of mobile number portability (MNP) from January 1, 2019, in accordance with the plan set forth by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Currently, the total number of mobile subscribers in Vietnam is about 130 million, of which postpaid subscribers account for only about 6 million (5%). Thus, there are about more than 120 million prepaid mobile subscribers of the three major networks that can apply the policy of mobile number portability.
The total network switching fee for prepaid subscribers is 50,000 VND. In particular, all network operators apply the form of home support for customers who need to switch from other networks to use their services.
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In addition, subscribers can register for this service through other channels such as going to the network operator's store or supermarket system, accessing the application, registering via the website or contacting the switchboard.
The service of porting networks while keeping numbers has been provided by the three major carriers Viettel, MobiFone, and VinaPhone since November 16, but before that it was only applied to postpaid subscribers (about 6 million subscribers). In a meeting with the management agency in November, all three major carriers and Vietnamobile said that it would be implemented with prepaid subscribers from the beginning of 2019. However, this carrier has not yet announced specific information. Meanwhile, Gmobile does not apply porting networks while keeping numbers.
Previously, the Telecommunications Department said that the number retention network transfer transaction is carried out within 2 days for individual subscribers and 3 days for organizations, from the time the subscriber arrives at the transaction point of the network operator to complete the procedure. According to regulations, businesses have the right to refuse to transfer networks to subscribers with incorrect service registration information, complaints, disputes regarding service use, or violations of contracts with the transferring business...
However, recently, some subscribers have complained about being made difficult by the network operator during the process of transferring their network while keeping their number even though they are not in the above cases. After that, the leaders of the Ministry of Information and Communications requested the network operator to publicly disclose information on the website about which cases are not allowed to transfer and the reasons.
Mobile number portability is a service that allows mobile subscribers to change networks while retaining their phone number (including network code and subscriber number). The service was first launched in 1997 in Singapore and is now available in more than 110 countries and has become a popular trend in the developing mobile telecommunications market. In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia have implemented the service and Vietnam is the 4th country to implement the service.
