Five Vietnamese mobile network operators have just been fined a total of around VND1 billion (US$44,500) for violations in adjusting call rates and offering promotions.

A group of Vietnamese youths use their phones in this photo illustration

The penalty was imposed by the Viet Nam National Telecommunications Authority (VNTA), under the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, on mobile service providers GTel, Vietnamobile, MobiFone, Viettel and Vinaphone.

The five mobile network operators were found to have been offering promotions and adjusting call rates over the allowed limits and without prior notice to relevant authorities.

The violations were committed before November 1, 2016.

Military-owned mobile giant Viettel was subject to an additional fine of VND300 million ($13,400) for persistent violations after the date.

According to the information and communications ministry, the combined penalty for the five mobile carriers amounts to around VND1 billion.

Vietnamese laws dictate that a mobile service or product must not have promotions for over 90 days in a year, while a single promotion campaign must not run for over 45 days.

The five mobile service providers had used up their promotion caps by the end of October, but they continued to offer users further promotions after that, the ministry said.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)