Vietnam telco launches wireless access service
UTStarcom on Tuesday announced the official launch of service for the
first IP-based Personal Access System (iPAS) wireless system in Vietnam.
Vietnam Post and Telecommunications (VNPT), the largest
telecommunications service provider in Vietnam, activated city-wide
iPAS-based Cityphone Service in Hanoi, Vietnam's capitol, on December 19,
2002. VNPT will also launch Cityphone Service in late January 2003 in Ho
Chi Minh City. The value of the contract for deploying iPAS in both cities is
approximately US$20.0 million. Following these initial rollouts, VNPT and
Vietnam's Ministry of Communications anticipate deploying iPAS in multiple
cities nationwide.
Cityphone consists of two applications, fixed wireless telephone and local
wireless mobile telephone, suited for local service in high-density
population areas. In addition to initial voice and value-added voice services,
such as voice mail and call forwarding, Cityphone will soon include other
voice and data services such as SMS, MMS, music downloads, and even
Internet access at download speeds of up to 64 Kbps.
"VNPT selected iPAS because it is uniquely designed to fit the needs of a
large segment of the consumer population. In Vietnam, as well as in most
countries throughout the world, a large segment of the population typically
lives and works in one area all their lives, so they have no need for
long-distance roaming capabilities. However, people do want the option of
mobility within their city (local loop); they don't want to be tethered to their
home phones," said Tim Donovan, director of international marketing at
UTStarcom. "Internet access is also an important component of Cityphone
Service. Internet cafes are ubiquitous in Vietnam because not everyone
has Internet access in the home. With iPAS, VNPT can deliver Internet
applications through the wireless platform and actually converge with
voice."
CMPnetAsia - January 15, 2003.
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