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FPT's virtual mobile network officially launched nationwide with the prefix 0775.

Today, January 11, 2024, FPT's mobile virtual network (MVNO) officially launched nationwide with the prefix 0775. Thus, up to now, the Ministry of Information and Communications has licensed 6 enterprises to provide mobile virtual network services in Vietnam, including Dong Duong Telecom, Mobicast, ASIM, Digilife, VNSky and FPT Retail.

FPT Retail said that the time to deploy the technical system for a new MVNO network operator will normally take from 12 to 15 months. However, with the advantage of technology and support from FPT Corporation, within only 6 months of being officially licensed, FPT Retail has completed the process of investing in hardware and software systems to officially deploy and ensure the best service to customers.

Aiming to become a young, dynamic and always leading technology network, FPT mobile network - MVNO promises to bring a "new breeze" to young, modern users with the message "Turn "On" Amazing Life - Enjoy every moment".

FPT Retail hopes to effectively exploit its existing customer base and build a loyal customer base, thereby creating a sustainable source of revenue. At the same time, FPT Retail hopes to combine the advantages of units within the same group to achieve synergy effects such as: Developing corporate customer groups (telecommunications solutions for businesses), household customers (combining Internet - television), customers using IoT and M2M services.

In the context of a difficult and volatile retail market, deploying a mobile virtual network (MVNO) is a flexible move that helps FPT Retail take advantage of and maximize its existing advantages to better serve customers.

Owning a system of more than 800 FPT Shop stores nationwide, FPT Retail sells over 1.5 million smartphones and IoT devices of all kinds each year and is an agent providing mobile telecommunications services to hundreds of thousands of customers. Therefore, the deployment of telecommunications services will contribute to increasing customer convenience, serving as a channel to maintain the connection between FPT Retail and customers, thereby increasing the rate of returning customers. This also helps to effectively support the value chain of the entire system.

FPT Mobile Network – MVNO not only brings the most convenient and useful experience to customers, but also helps to complete FPT Retail's product and service ecosystem.

Regarding the deployment of FPT mobile network, Mr. Hoang Trung Kien, General Director of FPT Retail said: “FPT wishes to bring customers high-quality mobile telecommunications services, professional services and constant innovation to provide unique and interesting experiences for customers, especially the young generation who always live with passion, explore and enjoy every moment of life. We will integrate services, utilities, and content in the FPT ecosystem and partners so that customers can conveniently use the services and effectively exploit the selected packages. Promoting the technological strengths of the Group, FPT mobile services will also apply advanced technologies such as Cloud computing, Chat BOT, AI... to improve service capacity and meet the needs of customers, as well as comply with the regulations of the telecommunications industry and standards for sustainable development ESG".

Within the scope and orientation of comprehensive development, FPT Retail expects that the telecommunications service deployed by the unit will be a piece to help complete the digital ecosystem of FPT Corporation, aiming to apply new technologies such as 5G, IoT...

According to the Department of Telecommunications, as of April 30, 2023, there were about 2.65 million subscribers of virtual networks in Vietnam, accounting for 2.1% of the total number of subscribers in the entire mobile market.

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications), said that virtual network operators (MVNOs) are no longer a new concept. These are businesses that do not own telecommunications infrastructure but still provide mobile services by renting traffic from network operators.

Virtual networks currently only account for a small number of users, and the services provided are still modest, with no services that truly create their own strengths. To promote development, virtual networks should find a service that truly benefits users. For example, financial services, learning services, or services related to niche markets that large networks cannot reach.

This is a direction that is in line with the world's development trend and will contribute to promoting the development of content services, creating more telecommunications services on the broadband Internet platform.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, because they do not own the infrastructure and do not have to apply for frequency licenses, regulations on service provision for virtual networks are relatively easy. Virtual networks only need to sign contracts to buy SIMs from other mobile networks to be able to provide services.

During the process of amending the Telecommunications Law, the Telecommunications Department added a wholesale policy to create a more transparent and easier legal corridor, helping network operators to negotiate easily during the traffic purchase process, thereby being able to provide good quality services at attractive prices.

“Virtual network operators need to find an attractive niche market to maintain a stable number of subscribers and have a high ARPU (average revenue per customer) compared to the current average,” said Mr. Nha.