A new idea product from students (SV) that results in significant losses for businesses, turning students into second-class citizens with the crime they themselves admit: “a little illegal“.
For just 30,000 VND a month, students can connect to the internet right at home and be online 24/7. This is the discovery of today’s students.
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Internet has become a daily necessity for students. |
30,000 VND, the price to pay for “illegal” internet access, is indeed very sweet. But are the consequences that these students face as sweet?
The cost of registering for internet service from FPT or VDC seems a bit overwhelming for students. Therefore, students tend to use “illegal” internet connections through hubs at internet shops.
Illegal connections and the reasoning of “a little illegal”
The days when connecting to the internet at home was a luxury reserved for the “elite” are long gone. Now even students with the most ordinary living conditions can “design” their own networked computer at home for an incredibly low price.
It is not at all difficult to find student dormitories with 100% internet coverage, such as in the HITC area – Cau Giay, Phung Khoang – Thanh Xuan, Duong Quang Ham, Hanoi University of Science and Technology…
Illegal internet connections are truly becoming a new trend among students living in dorms, especially those with high internet usage needs like information technology, journalism, and architecture students.
To register for FPT or VDC internet services, each person must go to the post office to sign a contract, invest nearly 1 million VND initially, and pay a monthly subscription fee along with download fees depending on usage.
This cost seems to be a bit much for students. Therefore, students are trending towards using “illegal” internet services, connecting through hubs at internet shops, as the procedures are simple and the prices are incredibly low.
With just a verbal agreement based on “trust,” they only need to spend an additional 250,000 VND for initial wiring and monthly fees ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 VND. This price is indeed very attractive for students far from home.
M.Kien, a student from the University of Vietnam National University, living in alley 26A/175 in the HITC area, shared: “The internet is an essential part of our lives as IT students.
My online needs are very high as I even have my own website that is running quite well. I chose this illegal connection because it’s much cheaper than signing up for official services, and I don’t have to deal with complicated procedures. Although it’s “a little illegal,” it’s convenient.”
Not only M.Kien, but many students also use this reasoning to explain their “a little illegal” actions. M.Linh (HVBCTT – living in Phu – Nguyen Phong Sac – Hanoi) said, “My field requires frequent web surfing to search for information. Since I am working part-time, I can only be online at night. I only spend 60,000 VND a month, which is both safe and convenient.”
In addition to academic reasons, there are many other reasons, such as in the case of V.C.Bang (Phung Khoang – Thanh Xuan). Bang’s neighborhood has six guys, all tech enthusiasts.
Instead of spending a fortune at internet shops, they pool their money to rent a connection at a nearby internet shop. On average, they only pay 30,000 VND per person per month.
As students in need of internet connections, we visited many internet shops. Aside from those that had no available ports, most of the others agreed to rent ports at prices ranging from 60,000 to 120,000 VND per month. Some even offered a complete package (selling wiring and installing it at home).
Mr. P.T.C, the owner of the internet shop in alley 175-HITC, mentioned that his shop has 26 computers, and he rents out the remaining available ports. Interestingly, not only students use this illegal service, but even some organizations and groups have contacted Mr. P.T.C to install internet for 3 to 5 machines.
You are being exploited by internet shop owners
The students mentioned above only see the immediate benefits of cheap subscription fees and convenience. However, they do not fully consider the issues they may face later. If detected by the service provider, they will have to face penalties.
In a conversation with Ms. Tran Hai Yen, a representative from VDC, we received a lot of interesting and surprising information.
“In reality, the final subscription fee from VDC is only 28,000 VND per month. Compared to the average usage of students, they only need to pay 40,000 to 50,000 VND per month, or at most 100,000 VND. By using such official services, students will enjoy many benefits like receiving a modem promotion and reduced subscription fees...”.
However, due to the lack of awareness, many people, especially students, firmly believe that “illegal” internet is cheaper than legal internet. The procedures for registering for an ADSL subscription are very simple; with just an ID card and a student certificate, you can completely own a legal ADSL subscription.
Ms. Tran Hai Yen further stated: “For internet shops using MegaVNN lines from VDC, any business activity involving the line in any form is illegal“.
Simply put, just renting out 5 to 6 ports means these shops do not have to pay monthly fees to VDC.
According to Ms. Yen, “the potential damage could be very large, but currently, VDC still faces many challenges in accurately assessing the situation. To do so, a comprehensive market survey is needed, and cooperation with the Hanoi Post and Telecommunications Department and PC13 is essential to prevent this phenomenon“.
We hope that students using “illegal” internet will soon recognize its downsides.
