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Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) officially launched its wireless fixed-phone service GPhone on May 31.
The service, which allows customers to use fixed-phone telephones without the need to use cable, uses the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) platform provided by Vinaphone. As a result, the service will be available in all areas covered by Vinaphone's mobile phone network - virtually the whole country.
VNPT said it was duty-bound to provide telecommunications' access to everyone in Vietnam - regardless of income or geographical area. "The service is particularly suitable for remote and mountainous areas where installation of a fixed-line telephone service is expensive and, in some cases, impossible," a VNPT spokesman told a press conference.
"The charges for the new service are the same as that for fixed-line telephone subscribers, which is appropriate for low-income customers in the countryside and mountainous areas," he said.
VNPT will introduce the new service in two stages. In the first place, starting this June, the service will be launched experimentally in eight provinces and cities Lai Chau, Thai Nguyen, Ha Tay, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Can Tho, Hau Giang and An Giang.
In the second phase, starting in August, VNPT will extend the service to the rest of the country with the exception of Hanoi and HCM City.
The telecom company expects to have 100,000 Gphone subscribers by the end of this year.
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