Wireless Internet users in Vietnam now have a new option – the E-Net wireless Internet service from EVN Telecom (Electric Telecommunications Company).
Similar to the Mobile Internet service that S-Fone previously tested, E-Net from EVN Telecom allows users of this operator’s services to access broadband wireless Internet (using their mobile phone as a modem). While it resembles a Wi-Fi connection, E-Net’s coverage area is significantly larger, making this a major advantage of the service. If this service is further refined, Wi-Fi may face a market share challenge.
Current Capabilities
E-Net is provided using CDMA 2000 1x mobile technology on a frequency of 450 MHz. It is important to emphasize that E-Net is currently offered within regions only, not inter-provincially – available exclusively for users of EVN Telecom’s provincial mobile service (E-phone), similar to Cityphone’s mobile service. If you register for E-phone in Ho Chi Minh City, you can only use E-Net in Ho Chi Minh City; if you travel to Hanoi, you cannot use E-Net with an E-phone registered in Ho Chi Minh City, and vice versa. This is a limitation that E-Net currently faces (though it still surpasses Wi-Fi in coverage radius).
Currently, customers can register for E-Net in: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Son La, Ha Giang, Bac Ninh, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien – Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Long An, Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang. However, not every area in these localities has EVN Telecom coverage, so you should inquire about the availability of E-Net in the areas where you wish to use the service.
To use E-Net, users must register for an E-phone subscription and connect their mobile phone to a computer via a cable (COM or USB port, with prices ranging from 60,000 to over 200,000 VND depending on the mobile phone). EVN Telecom announced that PCMCIA cards for laptops would not be available until Q3 2006.
Currently, E-Net offers data transmission speeds of up to 153.6 Kbps, which is considered the highest among mobile broadband wireless Internet services available in Vietnam. This speed is significantly faster than the maximum 56 Kbps of standard dial-up connections, but still much lower than ADSL (with a maximum speed of 2 Mbps). The cost of E-Net is 35 VND per minute, excluding VAT; additionally, when connecting to the Internet, users must also pay EVN Telecom mobile charges of 329 VND per minute. The total cost for using E-Net Internet service is 364 VND per minute or 21,840 VND per hour. For more information about E-Net and other services from EVN Telecom, you can call (04) 2232323 or (08) 2232323.
EVN Telecom stated that from Q2 to Q3 2006, they would provide E-Net services on the nationwide E-Mobile mobile service, allowing users to connect to broadband wireless Internet anywhere EVN Telecom has coverage. Please note that E-phone subscribers wishing to switch to E-Mobile must change their number, but need not change their mobile device. EVN Telecom also promises that the speed of E-Net will significantly improve when upgraded to CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO standard, with a maximum speed of up to 2.4 Mbps. It should also be noted that both Hanoi Telecom and S-Fone have announced their plans to launch this technology within the year.
Thus, with the launch of E-Net, the trend of broadband wireless Internet connectivity will become more popular and convenient than ever in Vietnam. This service is being vigorously promoted by a group of CDMA operators (GSM operators are unlikely to achieve this within the year). However, from a certain perspective, at this point, wireless Internet connectivity via CDMA technology is still not fully developed and does not attract users significantly. This is because, like E-Net, the strongest wireless Internet service currently allows users to access the Internet only regionally, with limited speed and high costs (it should be noted that most existing public Wi-Fi hotspots in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are provided for free).
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Nhat Binh
