Ailing mobile network S-Fone’s latest movements are under the microscope. In the recent past S-Fone’s managing director Pham Tien Thinh left his post after failing to find a common voice with current leadership in respect to the company’s development orientations. “Radical changes took place at S-Fone in the past year and the company’s new development directions are different from what I... 

Despite getting a licence to change itself into S-Telecom Company Limited with $452.3 million in total registered capital, S-Fone’s leaders have yet to unveil who will be the key strategic partner. At its seven-year foundation anniversary in July 2010, S-Fone once declared it had 7.5 million subscribers and was the fourth largest player in local telecom market. However, according to Ministry of... 

Although mobile internet usage has been slow to catch on in Vietnam, the popularity of digital media is set to surge in the next 12 months, according to a pre-release of data from Nielsen’s inaugural Southeast Asia Digital Consumer Report on Tuesday. The report, which will be available on 30 September this year, studies the behavior and attitudes of digital consumers in response to the way that... 

Qualcomm has pledged to continue supporting CDMA technology development in Vietnam to local mobile operators. Qualcomm regional president John Stefanac said the company would continue to support operators in Vietnam in code division multiple access (CDMA) operators and GSM peers enrolling in 3G networks. “Qualcomm has been responsible for commercialisation of CDMA technology, all 3G networks... 

CDMA network S-Fone is seeking approval from the HCMC authorities to convert its business model from a business cooperation contract (BCC) to a joint venture. Network operators Saigon Post and Telecommunication Company (Saigon Postel) and SK Telecom of South Korea said they had sent their proposal for the conversion to the Department of Planning and Investment. A source from the department told the... 

The country’s first CDMA network S-Fone is expected to receive a joint venture certificate to allow it to liquidate its contract with foreign partner South Korea SK Telecom in September. Saigon Postel, the business cooperation contract local partner to develop the S-Fone network, said the company had completed and submitted its application to the Ho Chi Minh City Planning and Investment Department... 

SaigonTel got shareholders’ approval at its annual general shareholder meeting last Friday to acquire 30 per cent of Saigon Postel this year. Accordingly, SaigonTel will acquire 35.9 million shares, equivalent to 30 per cent of stake at Saigon Postel after this telco completes its chartered capital increase from currently VND711 billion ($34.3 million). The SaigonTel management board will negotiate... 

Major companies are planning merger and acquisation deals in 2011, rather than setting up new business operations. In November, software giant FPT announced it would buy a 50-per-cent stake in EVN Telecom, a wholly-owned unit of State-owned Electricity of Viet Nam. This was expected to set off a wave of M&A activity among the nation’s mobile phone service providers. FPT chairman Nguyen Thanh... 

HCM CITY — The telecom market is unlikely to sustain its scorching pace of development since it has reached saturation point and tariffs have fallen significantly. Viet Nam has a population of 86 million and 163 million subscribers, including 148 million for mobile phones. “The telecommunication market has reached saturation and … has come under strict oversight with regard to quality and... 

S-Fone’s local operator, Saigon Postel is rushing to find potential partners to joint its new joint venture following the planned withdrawal of the existing partner South Korea’s SK Telecom. The Vietnamese government on August 9 approved for the country’s first CDMA network, S-Fone operator to divert into a joint venture from business cooperation contract entity, making it become the second mobile...