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FPT 's virtual mobile network has officially launched nationwide with the prefix 0775.

Today, January 11, 2024, FPT's Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) officially launched nationwide with the prefix 0775. Thus, as of now, the Ministry of Information and Communications has licensed six businesses to provide mobile virtual network services in Vietnam, including Indochina Telecom, Mobicast, ASIM, Digilife, VNSky, and FPT Retail.

FPT Retail stated that the typical time required to deploy the technical system for a new MVNO (Mobile Mobile Network Operator) is 12 to 15 months. However, with its technological advantages and support from the FPT Group, FPT Retail completed the investment in both hardware and software systems within just 6 months of receiving official licensing, enabling it to officially launch and ensure the best possible service for its customers.

Aiming to become a youthful, dynamic, and cutting-edge mobile network operator, FPT Mobile Network - MVNO promises to bring a "breath of fresh air" to young, modern users with the message "Turn "On" Amazing Life - Enjoy every moment".

FPT Retail aims to effectively leverage its existing customer base and build a loyal customer base, thereby creating a sustainable revenue stream. Simultaneously, FPT Retail hopes to combine the strengths of its various units within the group to achieve synergistic effects, such as: developing corporate clients (telecommunications solutions for businesses), household clients (combining Internet and television services), and clients using IoT and M2M services.

Amidst a challenging and volatile retail market, the deployment of a virtual mobile network operator (MVNO) is a flexible move that helps FPT Retail leverage and maximize its existing advantages to better serve customers.

With a network of over 800 FPT Shop stores nationwide, FPT Retail sells over 1.5 million smartphones and various IoT devices annually and serves as a mobile telecommunications service provider to hundreds of thousands of customers. Therefore, deploying telecommunications services will contribute to increased customer convenience, maintain a connection between FPT Retail and its customers, and ultimately increase customer retention rates. This also effectively supports the entire system's value chain.

FPT Mobile Network – MVNO not only provides the most convenient and useful experience for customers, but also helps to complete the product and service ecosystem of FPT Retail.

Speaking about the deployment of FPT's mobile network, Mr. Hoang Trung Kien, General Director of FPT Retail, said: “FPT aims to provide customers with high-quality mobile telecommunications services, professional service, and continuous innovation to offer unique and exciting experiences, especially for the younger generation who live life to the fullest with passion, exploration , and enjoyment of every moment. We will integrate services, utilities, and content within the FPT ecosystem and with partners to ensure customers can conveniently use the services and effectively utilize their chosen packages. Leveraging the Group's technological strengths, FPT's mobile service will also apply advanced technologies such as Cloud computing, Chat BOT, AI... to enhance service capabilities and meet customer needs, as well as comply with telecommunications industry regulations and ESG standards for sustainable development.”

As part of its comprehensive development plan, FPT Retail expects the telecommunications services it deploys to be a piece that completes the digital ecosystem of the FPT Group, aiming towards the application of new technologies such as 5G and IoT.

According to data from the Telecommunications Authority, as of April 30, 2023, there were approximately 2.65 million subscribers of virtual mobile network operators in Vietnam, accounting for 2.1% of the total number of subscribers in the entire mobile market.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department (Ministry of Information and Communications), virtual mobile operators (MVNOs) are no longer a new concept. These are businesses that do not own telecommunications infrastructure but still provide mobile services by leasing traffic from network operators.

Virtual mobile network operators currently only have a small user base, and the services they offer are still modest, lacking any truly unique and competitive advantages. To boost growth, virtual network operators should find a service that genuinely benefits users. Examples could include financial services, educational services, or niche market services that large network operators cannot access.

This direction aligns with global development trends and will contribute to the growth of content services, creating more telecommunication services based on broadband internet.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, because they do not own the infrastructure and do not have to participate in frequency licensing, the regulations regarding service provision for virtual network operators are relatively easy. Virtual network operators only need to sign contracts to purchase SIM cards from other mobile network operators to be able to provide services.

During the revision of the Telecommunications Law, the Telecommunications Authority added wholesale policies to create a more transparent and easier legal framework, facilitating negotiations among network operators during traffic procurement, thereby enabling them to provide high-quality services at attractive prices.

"Virtual mobile network operators need to find an attractive niche market to maintain a stable subscriber base and achieve a higher ARPU (average revenue per customer) compared to the current average," Mr. Nha commented.