By Hien Nguyen - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC- Although Viettel and EVN Telecom are yet to launch 3G service, the telco companies said it would be available sooner than customers expected.
Tran Minh Huy, deputy director of Viettel Telecom in HCMC, told the Daily on Wednesday that Viettel would launch 3G service next week, two months earlier than their initial commitment. 
“We have piloted the service since October last year. It’s time to officially introduce 3G to customers,” Huy said.
He added that Viettel would add 7,500 base transceiver stations nationwide, 1,500 stations more than the Ministry of Information and Communication’s expectation. Initially, Viettel will aim to target 3G subscribers with mobile internet service.
“Last week, the Ministry of Information and Communication provided new number codes which will allow us to develop around 4 million subscribers. This is our advantage against other telcos,” he added.
Under the commitment Viettel made with the ministry last year, the telco will invest VND12.8 trillion, or some US$660 million at the current forex rate, in 3G service over the next three years. It will also expand frequency networks with more than 6,000 base transceiver stations nationwide.
Meanwhile, EVN Telecom recently revealed that it is currently testing 3G services too. They plan to launch the service in early April, two months earlier than expected.
At first, they will only provide the service in major cities like Hanoi, HCMC, Danang and Can Tho. Currently, the telco has installed 2,500 base transceiver stations across the country.
The Ministry of Information and Communication said there would be harsh competition among telcos this year, as the market is moving towards saturation. They added that telco providers would need to provide a comprehensive service to keep customers.
An estimated 15-20 million people in Vietnam do not have access to mobile internet yet. Potential subscribers will be able to choose from seven mobile operators, and the competition will be fierce.
Major telco companies Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone plan to lure about 15 million subscribers. Smaller telcos like S-Fone, Beeline, EVN Telecom and Vietnamobile will share the remainder.
Industry insiders said the telcos’ challenge would be retaining customers, rather than attracting new ones.