Fixed phone numbers nationwide get an extra digit

VietNamNet Bridge – All fixed phone numbers nationwide became longer by one digit as of mid night on Oct. 26.

Following the lead of Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), which added an extra “3” to its fixed-line phone numbers on Oct. 5, five other companies also added one more digit on Oct. 26, and the digit are different for each company.

Subscribers of Vietnam Military Telecom Corporation (Viettel) get a prefix of 6 to their numbers, while users of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Telecom fixed line service are to add “2” to the beginning of their numbers.

Saigon Postel, FPT Telecom and Vietnam Data Communication Company (VTC)’s fixed phone numbers were preceded by 5, 7 and 4, respectively.

The changes were introduced so the companies can expand their customer base. The extra digit will enable the addition of thousands of new subscribers.

VNPT currently has 10 million fixed phone customers, meanwhile, the other five companies hold a total of about 3.4 million.

(Source: VNA)

Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//tech/2008/10/810463/