Cable internet providers plan to expand their networks to rural areas this year to capture a bigger share of the market.

Dau Tu newspaper quoted a spokesperson of giant post and telecommunications company VNPT as saying it hopes to add 1.2 million cable internet users this year.

The company plans to expand its cable internet services across the country, especially to rural and remote areas, he said.

It now reaches 93 per cent of all communes in the country and hopes to increase it to 97 per cent this year, he said.

Meanwhile, Viettel announced that this year it would design schemes with prices suitable for various customer segments, including in remote areas.

Viettel targets a year-on-year 20-25 per cent growth in its cable internet subscriptions this year and the coverage rate to 70 per cent of all communes in the country.

The Viet Nam Telecommunications Authority under the Ministry of Information and Communications said the number of broadband internet (including ADSL and cable) subscribers last year jumped from 7.7 million to 9.2 million, with 5.5 million being cable subscribers.

VNPT is the market leader with a 41 per cent share followed by Viettel and FPT. — VNS