Vietnam is expected to have some 36 million mobile phone subscribers in 2010, up from over 11 million currently, local media quoted a minister as reporting on Monday.

"With the growth of six licensed mobile phone operators, namely Vinaphone, MobiFone, Viettel, S-Fone, EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom, we will witness the spectacular development of our mobile communications market in the coming time," Vietnam Economic Times quoted Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Do Trung Ta as saying.

From late 2006, new mobile phone services based on advanced information and communication technologies like provision of downloadable music clips, video streaming (which allows users to watch online video clips on their phones), and information search will develop in Vietnam with its current population of 83.1 million, officials of the operators predicted.

Under Vietnam's strategy on developing information technology and telecommunications, every 100 residents will have 32-42 phones, over 10 personal computers, and 8-12 Internet subscribers by 2010.

According to the International Telecommunications Union, Vietnam has ranked second in the world, after China, in telecommunications growth rate in recent years.

Source: Xinhua