Viet Son Net

China’s telecommunications industry recorded operating revenues of RMB 284.55 billion in the first four months of 2010, up 5.7% year-on-year, the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Telecom Development announced on its site on May 25. Mobile communications generated revenues of RMB 193.88 billion, or 68.14% of the total revenues in the sector.

The number of mobile phone users in China rose by 39.12 million in the first four months to reach a total of 786.5 million by the end of April, while broadband users increased by 7.8 million during the period to hit 111 million. Fixed-line user numbers decreased by 6.14 million to 307.55 million.

China Unicom (NYSE:CHU, 0762.HK, 600050.SH) made net profit of RMB 1.13 billion in the first quarter of 2010, down 68.3% year-on-year, the company reported April 29. The telecom carrier reported revenues for the quarter of RMB 40.42 billion, or RMB 40.34 billion after adjusting for the effect of deferred upfront connection fees, representing an annual increase of 6.8%, the report said. The company’s mobile services generated RMB 18.63 billion over the quarter, up 11.9% year-on-year, of which 3G business accounted for RMB 1.59 billion, the report said. Average revenue per mobile subscriber (ARPU) per month came to RMB 41.5, the report said. Revenues for broadband services increased 23.8% year-on-year to RMB 7.13 billion, with an ARPU of RMB 59.5, the report said.

According to reports citing the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China Unicom accounted for 26.7% of China’s 3G users by the end of March.

China Mobile (NYSE: CHL, 0941.HK) decided in an internal meeting to require wireless value-added service providers (SPs) to stop providing services within 3 months to knock-off and illegally imported phones without valid network access permits, Beijing News reported March 26 quoting insiders within China Mobile. SPs that don’t comply will have their business terminated, the report said.

The decision followed a March 15 expose by China Central Television, which addressed illegal partnerships between SPs and handset vendors.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) increased its holdings in China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 0728.HK) by purchasing 49.4 million shares at the average price of RMB 3.555 per share on March 26, reported qq.com. The deal increased the bank’s stake in the telecom operator from 6.97% to 7.32%, the report said.

China Telecom had a total of 188.56 million fixed-line subscribers by the end of 2009, while its mobile user base reached a total of 56.09 million. The company booked net income of RMB 14.42 billion in 2009.

China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 0728.HK) booked net income of RMB 14.42 billion in 2009, the company announced March 22. Operating revenues came to RMB 209.37 billion, up 12.2% year-on-year, of which wireline voice services’ contribution fell 18.5% year-on-year to RMB 78.43 billion from RMB 96.26 billion in 2008, while internet services generated RMB 51.57 billion and mobile voice revenues accounted for RMB 20.03 billion, up 26.6% and 406.4% on an annual basis, respectively.

China Telecom had a total of 188.56 million fixed-line subscribers by the end of 2009, while the company’s mobile user base reached a total of 56.09 million.

China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting (CMMB), a domestic multimedia and mobile TV standard, started commercial operation on March 22, Sina reports quoting a joint announcement that day from China Mobile (NYSE:CHL, 0941.HK) and China Satellite Mobile Broadcasting Corporation. China Mobile targets 5 million CMMB users and plans to offer a promotional package priced at RMB 6 per month with a free one-month trial, the report said.

CMMB mobile TV is being offered in 27 provinces and cities, the report said.

China Mobile (NYSE:CHL, 0941.HK) added 5.52 million subscribers in February, up from 5.12 million new subscribers in January, to bring its total number of customers to 532.9 million, the company reported March 22. G3 customers using the company’s 3G network had reached around 4.28 million by February 28, up from 3.898 million at the end of January. Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and CEO of China Mobile, said in a Friday interview that China Mobile is looking at acquisition and investment targets in Asia and Africa as profit growth slows at home, the Wall Street Journal reported March 19.

China Unicom (NYSE:CHU, 0762.HK, 600050.SH) added a net of 470,000 3G users and 736,000 2G users in February to bring its respective 3G and 2G user totals to 4.065 million and 146.39 million subscribers. The company gained 791,000 broadband users in the month to reach 40.31 million, while fixed-line users fell by 410,000 to 102.11 million.

China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 0728.HK) had a total of 185.63 million fixed-line subscribers by the end of February, after losing 1.03 million during the month, while the carrier’s broadband subscriber base grew by 780,000 to 55.03 million by the end of February. China Telecom’s mobile user base increased during the reporting period by 3.01 million to a total of 62.15 million, including CDMA and PHS subscribers.

China Mobile (NYSE:CHL, 0941.HK) reported net profit of RMB 115.17 billion in 2009, up 2.3% year-on-year, according to the company’s full year report issued March 17. China Mobile revenues grew 9.8% year-on-year to RMB 452.10 billion, of which usage fees generated RMB 285.97 billion. Revenue from the company’s value-added business increased 16.0% from the previous year to contribute RMB 131.43 billion, which China Mobile attributed to expansion services including short messaging services, color ring tones, mobile internet access and “mobile paper.”

During the year, China Mobile recorded a total voice usage volume of 2.92 trillion minutes, with average minutes of usage per user (MOU) of 494 minutes, and monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) of RMB 77. China Mobile had a total of 522.28 million users by the end of December.

According to previous reports, the company had cut its standard mobile data traffic fee from RMB 0.03/KB to RMB 0.01/KB in 2009.

Taiwanese fabless semiconductor company MediaTek (MTK) (2454.TW) has begun shipments of 3G WCDMA handsets chips to mainland handset manufacturers ZTE Corporation (0763.HK, 000063.SZ) and Beijing Tianyu Communications Equipment this quarter, 163.com reported citing Taiwanese media Economic Daily News. Both of mainland companies decided in the fourth quarter of 2009 to adopt MediaTek’s WCDMA handset solutions for their 3G products, the report said.

The 3G network was launched, Yahoo!360 closed and new laws on telecommunications were approved.  Here we list the top 10 information and communication technology events of the year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The 3G network was launched, Yahoo!360 closed and new laws on telecommunications were approved.  Here we list the top 10 information and communication technology events of the year.

1. The appearance of 3G networks in Vietnam

After six years of preparation, VinaPhone became the first operator to launch 3G services in Vietnam on October 12, covering 13 provinces and cities. MobiFone followed on December 15 while Viettel announced its intentions to offer 3G services soon.

2. The World IT Forum held in Vietnam the first time

Organized every two years, the World IT Forum (WITFOR) is amongst the largest and most prestigious IT events in the world. Under the theme: “IT for sustainable development”, Vietnam successfully organized WITFOR 2009, with nearly 1,500 delegates from 70 countries and territories. This event reaffirmed Vietnam’s position in the world IT community and showcased efforts to encourage the application of IT in all fields of life.

3. Yahoo!360 closes, Facebook becomes a new trend

After several delays, Yahoo! closed its blog service Yahoo!360 in Vietnam on July 14. Vietnamese bloggers moved to a nuymber of different social networks as many were disappointed with the replacement Yahoo!360 Plus. Facebook became the popular choice and attracted Vietnamese users with its online games such as Farmville and Barn Buddy.

4. The National Assembly issues the Laws on Telecommunications and Wireless Radio Frequency

The two laws were approved by the National Assembly on November 23. They will take effect from July 1 2010. The two new laws are believed to favor government policy aimed at encouraging all economic sectors, including the private, to develop their telecommunications infrastructure.

5. Controversy between BKIS and VnCert

On July 12, the Bach Khoa Internet Security Centre (BKIS) announced on its blog news of two servers based in the UK which launched DDoS attacks on American and Korean websites. As this was the largest ever DDoS attack, the information was reported by local and foreign newspapers and websites including USA Today, PC World and News.com.

However, on July 16, the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Team (VnCert) sent an urgent dispatch to the University of Technology asking the university to warn the BKIS, saying that it had received an official complaint from the Korean Computer Emergency Response Team (KrCert). KrCert said BKIS seriously violated Vietnamese and international laws when it “took control” of the two servers to analyze source codes. KrCert also accused BKIS of making public inaccurate information, which could cause misunderstanding.

After the VnCert’s move, BKIS protested via the media. The resulting controversy only cooled down with the intervention of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

6. Licensing virtual network operators

On August 19, Indochina Telecom received a license to become the 8th mobile service provider in Vietnam in the form of the full mobile virtual network operator – Full MVNO. As part of this model, Indochina Telecom did not have to build a based transceiver stations (BTS) but instead shared BTS with Viettel.

The Prime Minister also agreed in principle with VTC Group’s establishment of a virtual network.

7. Dispute over hanging telecom cables on electric poles

Conflict between the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) over the leasing price of electricity poles used to hang telecom cables has been dragged out for over the year after EVN decided to raise the leasing price of its electric poles.

VNPT and Viettel, amongst others, attempted to negotiate with EVN several times but couldn’t reach an agreement. EVN said telecom operators hung their cables on EVN’s electric poles carelessly and that electric poles were for supplying power to society, not for hanging telecom cables.

In September, EVN asked local power companies to remove telecom cables from electric poles however it didn’t end there. Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had to intervene by asking EVN to stop removing telecom cables. If the two sides are unable to reach agreement by January 5, 2010, they will have to report to the Ministry for settlement.

8. Application of digital signatures

On September 15, the Ministry of Information and Communication granted the first license to provide certification services of digital signatures to the VNPT. Accordingly, VNPT is permitted to supply the certification service of digital signatures for individuals and organizations to use in public activities. It is said that this will help sped up the implementation of e-commerce, e-transaction and e-government in Vietnam.

9. The first ICT Awards

The Ministry of Information and Communication on March 14 granted the first national ICT Awards to honor ICT enterprises and businesses which have greatly contributed to the country’s ICT sector.

10.Newspaper via mobile phones

On December 16, VietNamNet became the first online newspaper in Vietnam that has a version for mobile phones (www.vietnamnet.vn/mobi). VietnamPlus, the Vietnam News Agency’s online newspaper also announced plans to launch a similar service very soon.