# S-Fone

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**S-Fone** was a [mobile](/source/Mobile_phone) [communication](/source/Communication) operator in Vietnam that used the [CDMA](/source/CDMA) technology. Founded on 1 July 2003 in [Ho Chi Minh City](/source/Ho_Chi_Minh_City), Vietnam, S-Fone became the third network of Vietnam, breaking the duopoly of the two [VNPT](/source/VNPT) operators.[1] It is the [trademark](/source/Trademark) of S-Telecom (CDMA Mobile Phone Centre) (set up as a [joint venture](/source/Joint_venture) between Saigon Postel Corp. (SPT) and Korea [SK Telecom](/source/SK_Telecom)). SK Telecom decided to leave the partnership in 2010.[2] SPT has since then found it difficult to find a new partner, after a co-operation with [Saigon Tel](/source/Saigon_Tel) failed.[2]

As of the start of 2005, breaking the old rule of the calls fee from 10 second to 1 second (6+1)7, S-Fone has 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 subscribers, contributing 3% to the total market (after [Mobifone](/source/Mobifone) with 41%, [Viettel Mobile](/source/Viettel_Mobile) with 34% and [Vinaphone](/source/Vinaphone) with 20%.[3] Its market share (estimated based on revenues) fell to 0.1% by 2012 after suffering from a lack of capital, a small number of subscribers and low network quality.[1]

S-Fone has become highly indebted and has been unable to pay salaries for several months in its Hanoi branch in late 2012.[2][4] S-Fone ceased its operation, closed its stores and website, and released its staff from their contracts in July 2012. Its operating license expired in 2016.[4]

## Achievements

S-Fone is the first and biggest national cellular [mobile phone network](/source/Mobile_phone_network) using [CDMA](/source/CDMA) in Vietnam (followed by [EVN Telecom](/source/EVN_Telecom) and [HT Mobile](/source/HT_Mobile)). On 9 October 2006, S-Fone officially launched [CDMA](/source/CDMA) 2000 1x EV-DO value added services for the first time in Vietnam: VOD/MOD ([Video](/source/Video), [TV on demand](/source/TV_on_demand), [music](/source/Music) on demand) and [mobile Internet](/source/Mobile_Internet) (enabling internet access for PCs and [laptops](/source/Laptop) via S-Fone network) beginning in [Ho Chi Minh City](/source/Ho_Chi_Minh_City), Hanoi, [Da Nang](/source/Da_Nang), [Hai Phong](/source/Hai_Phong) and [Can Tho](/source/Can_Tho).

## References

1. ["Năm 2012 khó khăn của các mạng di động nhỏ"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130106101850/http://gafin.vn/20130103093051313p0c36/nam-2012-kho-khan-cua-cac-mang-di-dong-nho.htm). *Gafin.vn*. 3 January 2013. Archived from [the original](http://gafin.vn/20130103093051313p0c36/nam-2012-kho-khan-cua-cac-mang-di-dong-nho.htm) on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

1. ["S-Fone "cháy túi", ôm nợ"](http://vef.vn/kinh-te-24h/2012-12-18-s-fone-chay-tui-om-no). *Vietnam Economic Forum*. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.

1. [Mobifone Portal :: | New Value Added Service](http://www.mobifone.com.vn/web/vn/home/mobifone_history.jsp)

1. ["S-Fone's license expires"](http://www.vneconomictimes.com/article/business/s-fone-s-license-expires). 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [S-Fone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Fone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Fone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.