Three major mobile network operators in Vietnam – Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone – have offically offered the MNP service from November 16^th, 2018. In the first three months, mobile number portability (MNP) will be available only for postpaid subscribers of the networks. After the period, the service will be expanded to prepaid end users. Meanwhile, the minor operor seems to be not ready for this policy when Vietnammobile will join later on January 1^st, 2018 and Gtel will not apply.

Talking with ICTnews, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung, Director of the Telecommunications Department of the Ministry of Information and Communications said that the ministry's leaders had required all operators launch the service as the schedule and plan.

Regarding to the Steering Committee of deploying the  MNP service in late 8/2018, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Hong Hai stressed that this is a compulsory policy in order to encourage competition, enhance the competitive competency of telecommunication enterprises and ensure the subscribers benefits. Therefore, Deputy Minister affirmed that the Ministry's position is to be resolutely implemented because it is much later than many countries. "Although there are just two operators, we still conduct the service, not wait for five parites. Any operator has not been deployed immediately, they can make a report to ministry" he said. Mobile operators also proposed to consider the transfer fee at 60.000 VND per transaction. Until now, the Telecommunication Department has not yet issued official information on the conditions and fees for switched networks.

In 11/2017, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued Circular No. 35/2017/TT - BTTTT regulated for MNP. According to this circular, the transferring enterprise shall ensure that there is no charge or any fee (value added service or telecommunications application service) since subscriber cut off the service. Mobile telecommunication operators shall have the responsibility to unite, public, announce publicly, apply the same rates and terms of use of the switched network service.

The MNP fee shall be calculated on the principle of taking charge of expenses, ensuring these fee subsidize partially of transfering enterprise, receiving enterprise and and the service development support center in coordination with the service providers. The fee charges can be adjusted to suit the actual situation. Non-refundable MPN charges are excluded unless the network fails due to a technical failure of the system.

Noteworthy, subscribers must ensure the completion of contracts, commitments and liquidation of contracts with the transferring enterprises within 60 days after the successful transfer. Over the time limit, subscribers who do not complete the procuments shall be returned to the transferred enterprises.

The new circular also stipulates that enterprises have the right to refuse to implement provide for subscribers some specific cases:

• Wrong subscription information (information on identification);
• Payment method.
• Subscribers violate the provisions of Article 12 of the Telecommunication Law or under the request of the competent State agencies or have complaints or disputes with other subscribers.