Vietnam Mobile Users Switch to Pre-Paid Subscriptions En Mass
Vietnamese mobile phone networks are at risk of loosing their faithful post-paid clients who are shifting to pre-paid subscription services.
Call charge of pre-paid subscription services is 40%-50% lower than that of the post-paid service.
Mobile networks have recently offered various incentives in terms of call and service charges for pre-paid subscribers to compete with rivals, especially after the country’s seventh network Beeline made its debut.
“As a VIP client, I feel post-paid subscribers are treated unfairly; call charges are high, procedures are cumbersome, call roaming is required to have deposits, and international messaging and calling are entitled to higher charges,” a client with Viettel said.
VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel, three largest networks in Vietnam, said they are seeking ways to keep faithful clients.
Vietnam now has more than 100 million mobile phone subscribers, with VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel holding over 90% of the market share.
Post-paid subscribers, however, account for 3%-5% of the total, compared to 10%-15% several years ago. Meanwhile, they contribute 50% to total revenue of mobile networks. (Investment, Vietnamnet)
Vietnamese
