Decision No. 155/2008/QD-TTg dated December 01, 2008 of the Prime Minister approving the plan on adjustment of local fixed telephone service charges

APPROVING THE PLAN ON ADJUSTMENT OF LOCAL FIXED TELEPHONE SERVICE CHARGES

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the May 25, 2002 Ordinance on Post and Telecommunications;

Pursuant to the April 26. 2002 Ordinance on Prices;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 170/2003/ND-CP of December 25,2003, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Ordinance, on Prices; and Decree No. 75/2008/ND-CP of June 9, 2008, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 170/2003/ND-CP of December 25, 2003, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Ordinance on Prices;

At the proposal of the Minister of Information and Communication,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the plan on adjustment of local fixed telephone service charges with the following principal contents:

I. DURING 2009-2010:

1. Basic charge package:

a/ Scope of application: Local fixed telephone services provided at subscriber homes (irrespective of applied technologies and payment modes) by all enterprises providing local fixed telecommunications services.

b/ Time of application: from January 1, 2009.

c/ Local charge areas: within administrative boundaries of provinces and centrally run cities.

d/ Local charge rates:

Monthly subscriber charge rate: VND 20,000/month or VND 635/day.

Communication charge: VND 200/minute.

The above charge rates are exclusive of value-added tax.

dd/ Charge calculation method: 1 minute + 1 minute.

e/ Management method: The Information and Communication Ministry shall issue a decision on the basic charge package for local fixed telephone services.

2. Other charge packages:

a/ Scope of application: Local fixed telephone services provided at public service places or to major customers, enterprises and service resale agents, and other local fixed telephone services specified by the Information and Communication Ministry.

b/ Time of application: from January 1, 2009.

c/ Local charge areas: within administrative boundaries of provinces and centrally run cities.

d/ Local charge rates will be set by service enterprises themselves but must not be 50% higher or lower than the basic charge package.

dd/ The charge calculation method will be specified by service enterprises themselves.

e/ Management method: Service enterprises shall register charge rates with the Information and Communication Ministry under regulations.

II. AFTER 2010:

1. Basic charge package:

a/ Scope of application: Local fixed telephone services provided at subscriber homes (irrespective of applied technologies and payment modes) by all enterprises providing local fixed telecommunications services.

b/ Time of application: from January 1, 2011.

c/ Local charge areas: within administrative boundaries of provinces and centrally run cities.

d/ Local charge rates will be set by service enterprises themselves based on the charge rate bracket or the cap price index (CPI) set by the Information and Communication Ministry.

dd/ The charge calculation method will be specified by service enterprises themselves.

e/ Management method: Service enterprises shall register charge rates with the Information and Communication Ministry under regulations.

2. Other charge packages:

a/ Scope of application: Local fixed telephone services provided at public service places or to major customers, enterprises and service resale agents, and other local fixed telephone services specified by the Information and Communication Ministry.

b/ Time of application: from January 1, 2011.

c/ Local charge areas: within administrative boundaries of provinces and central ly run cities.

d/ Local charge rates will be set by service enterprises themselves but must not be 50% higher or lower than the basic charge package.

dd/ The charge calculation method will be specified by service enterprises themselves.

e/ Management method: Service enterprises shall notify charge rates to the Information and Communication Ministry under regulations.

Article 2. The Information and Communication Ministry shall direct and guide the implementation of this Decision: elaborate criteria for specifying types of local fixed telephone services mentioned in the section Scope of application; formulate, promulgate, and guide the management of, charge rates according to the charge rate bracket or cap price index.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in “CONG BAO”. To annul the General Department of Post’s Decision No.809/2000/QD-TCBD of September 15, 2000, setting fixed telephone subscriber charges and charges for local telephone communication at subscriber homes, and other regulations contrary to this Decision.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, presidents of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, chairmen of Boards of Directors, directors general or directors of enterprises providing local fixed telephone services and heads of concerned agencies shall implement this Decision.

DECISION