Viettel, the largest mobile operator in Viet Nam, has more three million 10-digit mobile phone numbers. — Photo vnexpress.net

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Information and Communication has recently approved the addition of digit "1" to the "096", "097" and "098" prefixes in mobile phone numbers operated by Viettel, the largest mobile operator in Viet Nam.

The move follows a ministerial decision on allocation of telecom codes and numbers.

With the addition of one digit, Viettel will have more three million 10-digit mobile phone numbers. With 11 mobile phone prefixes, Viettel, with 87 million phone numbers, becomes the largest owner of mobile phone numbers in the country, of which 27 million are 10-digit numbers and 60 million 11-digit ones.

On December 22, 2014, the ministry issued Circular No 22/2014/TT-BTTT about planning the country's telecommunication numbers. The circular will take effect on March 1.

The ministry said that the plan is being implemented since fixed phones were on the decline while mobile phones' market was expanding. The fixed phones have seven digit long prefixes while mobile phones have two. However, fixed phones account for about five per cent while mobile phones make up for about 95 per cent of the total Vietnamese subscribers.

Therefore, the ministry has decided to provide eight prefixes for mobile phones and only one for fixed line that can lead to a change in area codes. All 11-digit phone numbers of mobile network operators will be transformed into 10-digit ones.

The change in area code will be implemented within two years. — VNS