There are 2.65 million subscribers in Vietnam using virtual mobile networks.

Up to now, 4 virtual mobile networks including Mobicast, ASIM, Dong Duong Telecom and Digilife have developed 2.65 million mobile subscribers, accounting for 2.1% of the total number of subscribers in the whole market.

According to statistics as of April 30 from the Telecommunications Department, Vietnam has 2.65 million subscribers using virtual mobile networks. Currently, the Vietnamese mobile market has low ARPU and is facing fierce competition from OTT services. Therefore, the participation of virtual mobile network operators in providing services will contribute to diversifying types of digital transformation services.

Có 2,65 triệu thuê bao tại Việt Nam sử dụng mạng di động ảo

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications) shared that the virtual mobile network model can deploy services nationwide, helping to save infrastructure, resources and bring value to customers.

Virtual mobile networks only need to buy wholesale traffic from network operators with infrastructure, focusing on business to bring suitable products to customers. Therefore, virtual mobile networks will have more development advantages, only need to choose niche markets to develop without having to expand as widely as network operators with infrastructure.

However, one difficulty here is that virtual mobile networks will depend heavily on network operators with infrastructure. Furthermore, this model is quite new in Vietnam, so management policies are needed to promote competition.

In 2010, the Ministry of Information and Communications licensed a number of virtual mobile network operators such as FPT, VTC, etc. Accordingly, VTC will provide mobile information services on EVN Telecom's 3G infrastructure, roaming with domestic 2G networks.

In addition, VTC will study roaming options with other mobile networks, expanding the coverage area to provide services to customers. At that time, FPT did not have a business plan and did not cooperate with network operators with infrastructure.

At that time, the Ministry of Information and Communications said that if any enterprise met the conditions, the Ministry would grant a license because virtual mobile networks did not have their own frequency bands, but had to use the infrastructure and frequency bands of other mobile networks. However, after a while, the enterprises quietly withdrew from the market.

Source