Foreign OTT service providers, including Viber, must base at least one host server in Viet Nam, and must have trade agreements with Vietnamese telecom firms that are licensed to provide Internet-based calls and texting messages, according to a new draft circular issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. — Photo dantri.com.vn

The Department is under the Ministry of Information and Communications. The process of collecting opinions will end on December 28.

According to the draft circular, foreign over-the-top (OTT) service providers are required to base at least one host server in Viet Nam, and must have trade agreements with Vietnamese telecom firms that are licensed to provide Internet-based calls and texting messages.

OTT enterprises which charge fees must follow the regulations on fee management and service quality that are applicable on traditional telecom services in Viet Nam.

Local enterprises are allowed to charge fees for OTT services only if they are licensed to provide Internet-based calls and messaging services. If domestic and international companies offer free services, they do not need licenses to provide telecom services. However, if their service attracts more than one million registered users, the firms must provide information such as the location of their headquarters, domain names and the address of the host server, as well as the number of calls and texts they handle, to the ministry before January 30 every year.

The regulations will be applied on foreign OTT service providers in Viet Nam such as Viber, WhatsApp and Line. Viber makes users pay for making calls to mobile phones and fixed phones with its Viber Out service. WhatsApp, which was purchased by giant social network Facebook in February, offers free services in the first year and charges VND21,000 from the second year. Japan's Line offers free calls and messaging services, and charges fees for value-added tax services such as selling of packages of stickers and themes. — VNS