The number of 3G subsribers in Viet Nam have increased in the first six months of the year, according to a recent statistics of the Ministry of Information and Communications. — Photo techdaily.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The first six months of this year have seen a decline in 2G mobile subscribers and a slight increase in the number of 3G subscribers.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Information and Communications, the number of 2G subscribers has fallen by approximately five million while 3G subscribers has gone up by more than three million. The total number of subscribers has declined by 2.1 million to 121,12 million so far.

Besides, the telecom market is also witnessing a decrease in fixed line subscribers with its total number now just seven million. In the same period last year, the number of fixed line subscribers was 9.47 million.

The decline in fixed line subscribers is projected to continue since mobile phones are now cheap and convenient, and telecom rates affordable.

The statistics also show that until the end of June, the number of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) subscribers is predicted to increase by 300,000 to 5.5 million.

According to the ministry, the total revenue of postal and telecom services in the first six months of 2014 reached VND122 trillion (US$5.8 billion), which is equivalent to 44 per cent of its plan.

In the second half of this year, the ministry will continue making policies to manage and develop over-the-top (OTT), which allows mobile phone users to make free phone calls and send free messages via Internet services. It will also complete the legal corridor for controlling prepaid subscribers and mobile phone numbers. — VNS