~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Vietnamese ISP to launch prepaid internet access

HANOI - The Vietnam Data Communications Company (VDC), an Internet unit of Vietnamese state-run telephone company Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, said this week it has completed trials of a prepaid Net access service. VDC recently completed a technical trial of its "VNNcard" prepaid Internet service, according to a company statement. The Internet service provider said subscribers would have to register to receive account details, with the only charges paid for each usage card and subsequent recharges. VDC promised a 30 percent discount to those who pay in advance over standard accounts. Subscribers would recharge their accounts on the Web, at http://prepaid.vnn.vn , the company said.

The ISP is now waiting for Vietnam's telecom regulator, the Department General of Posts and Telecommunications (DGPT), to approve a launch of the prepaid Internet service. It's one of a number of initiatives planned by VDC, which has been charged with raising Vietnam's tiny Internet penetration. Later this year, VDC and Vietnam Telecom Services Company - another unit of VNPT - plan to jointly allow Internet users to send SMS messages to VinaPhone mobile phones from a new VinaPhone Web site.

By Adam Creed - Newsbytes - August 30, 2001.