The Ministry of Information and Communications may issue millions of new10-digit mobile-phone numbers because Vietnamese people do not like thenew 11-digit numbers.

The ministry's TelecommunicationsDepartment is now drafting a circular on the possibility of issuing twobands, zero and one, after the existing digits.

This will give it more space to add many new numbers without adding an extra digit to 10-digit numbers.

The move will add 20 million new numbers to the mobile network system.

Many Vietnamese with 10-digit numbers stay with their network providers much longer than those with 11-digit numbers.

Nghiem Phu Hoan, deputy director of Vietnam Posts andTelecommunications Corporation (VNPT), said many subscribers used11-digit numbers to take advantage of special cut-rate offers by serviceproviders.

They then threw away their SIM card because it was even cheaper to wait for the next offer and then buy a new SIM card.

In fact, customers are eager to pay more for a 10 digit number. Forexample, Viettel can sell a SIM with 10 digits for 130,000-150,000 VND(6-7 USD) while their 11-digit SIM cards are sold for about 50,000 VND(2.20 USD).

The three giant mobile networks in Vietnam ,VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel, are running out of 10-digit numberswhile smaller network are believed to still have many.

The draft circular will be inspected by subscribers and mobile networks before being released.-VNA