Mobile number extension: Who benefits - Who loses?
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) recently announced that it is considering extending the 09 prefix of network operators from 10 digits to 11 digits. There are many conflicting opinions about the interests of businesses and users on this issue.
With the rapid growth of subscribers, telecommunications companies say they are always running out of numbers.
According to MobiFone and Viettel's calculations, at the peak of the subscriber boom, each network reached 4 million subscribers per month, about 136,000 subscribers per day, VinaPhone estimated to have about 100,000 subscribers per day.
Because of the pressure of growing subscribers, network operators are always anxious to get more numbers. Previously, Viettel was given the number 0164, MobiFone was given the number 0120, and VinaPhone was given the remaining 4 million numbers in the 0129 range.
Currently, 7 mobile network operators in Vietnam are operating nearly 30 mobile numbers. With the current subscriber growth rate, businesses say that soon even the 01 number will run out, especially when the networks are racing to develop many more SIM-consuming services such as 3G, internet access via USB with mobile phone SIM...
With the current plan to extend the prefix number, the Ministry of Information and Communications plans to withdraw the 11 prefix numbers that have been assigned to mobile networks. The networks will keep their old prefix numbers but must add one more number to make the length 11 digits.
At a recent working session with representatives of the International Telecommunication Union, a representative of the Ministry of Information and Communications said that extending the prefix number helps authorities and businesses better manage the allocation and usage; helping management agencies re-plan the number warehouse in the current chaotic number situation.
Many opinions say that customers will have to suffer a lot of inconvenience and disadvantages in this plan. If this becomes true, millions of mobile subscribers will have to re-register. Customers will also have to spend money to reprint business cards. For subscribers who own beautiful sim numbers starting with 01, if they are revoked, they will also suffer disadvantages.
“I currently own 3 beautiful SIM numbers starting with 01 for business transactions. Now if I change the number, I have to notify the customers again, which is too much trouble” - Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Linh, owner of a mobile store on Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, said.
According to statistics, Vietnam currently has more than 20 prefixes, many of which are closely associated with the brands of network operators. Many 01xx prefixes are being exploited by network operators, causing a lot of confusion for customers.
According to Tien Phong
