Internet access accounts for 70% of mobile phone usage frequency

According to interesting statistics from network operators in Vietnam, out of 10 times customers use their mobile phones, 7 times they access the Internet and only 3 times they use voice and SMS services.

3G has become a basic telecommunications service and is opened by default for customers by major carriers.

3G has become a basic and popular service.

The decline of 2G subscribers and the increase of 3G is the general picture of the mobile market, it shows that 3G has become a basic service and is becoming popular to everyone.

According to the 2014 White Book on Information and Communications Technology in Vietnam, recently published by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the number of mobile subscribers in Vietnam in 2013 was only 123.7 million - a decrease of 8 million (equivalent to 6%) compared to 2012.

Meanwhile, 3G mobile subscribers reached 19.7 million, an increase of 4 million subscribers, equivalent to 25.4% compared to 2012. Fixed phone subscribers continued to decrease, reaching over 6.7 million subscribers.

The figures in the 2014 Vietnam Information Technology White Book also accurately reflect the developments in the domestic telecommunications market. Accordingly, voice and SMS services are gradually approaching saturation. All network operators are facing difficulties in increasing new subscribers, some even experiencing declines. This is also the reason for the decline in new mobile subscribers in the entire Vietnamese market in 2013.

On the contrary, with the explosion of mid-range and low-cost smartphones and the widespread coverage of 3G, the number of 3G users has increased dramatically. The number of 4 million new 3G subscribers in 2013 predicts more positive figures for this service in 2014.

According to the Department of Telecommunications of the Ministry of Information and Communications, 3G is currently classified as one of the three basic telecommunications services (3G, voice, SMS) and has been opened by default by mobile networks when customers activate their mobile SIM cards.

In other words, both carriers and regulators predict that 3G will continue to grow strongly in 2014 and will become a service for everyone.

Network operators rush into 3G race

Sources from all three major carriers said that currently, all new SIMs sold as well as those used by customers have been activated by default for 3G service without having to register. However, carriers recommend that customers choose the appropriate package to control their costs.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chien, Deputy General Director of MobiFone, shared that revenue from 3G in 2014 is expected to increase by about 60% and is likely to increase further in the future. “Because demand is increasing strongly, we have organized a separate consulting team to help customers use appropriate 3G packages if they use them regularly,” Mr. Chien revealed.

Meanwhile, a representative of Viettel said that currently, new Viettel subscribers will not have to register to use 3G but can use it immediately after activating their SIM. This telecommunications company said it is stepping up its activities to advise customers on how to use 3G packages effectively and economically.

A representative of VinaPhone shared that in recent years, the growth rate of subscribers and 3G revenue of this network has always been high and 2014 was similar. However, increasing new actual subscribers with 2G is not easy.

According to telecommunications experts, network operators opening 3G as default for newly activated SIM cards, establishing a free consulting team, and increasing the development of mobile services or applications are ways to welcome the new wave of growth. “3G is the future, while 2G is going sideways and may decline. If we do not follow this trend, mobile networks will have difficulty developing,” said a representative of VinaPhone.

According to Vietnam+