Vietnam’s third largest mobile operator Vinaphone is in the middle of its biggest network expansion, with plans to add 10,000 3G base stations by October and boost 3G coverage to 90 per cent of the population.

The state-owned operator, which is run by the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), is also upgrading 3,000 3G base stations and aims to have the country’s largest 3G footprint, VNPT chairman Tran Manh Hung told Viet Nam News.

Hung said it is the operator’s largest network investment, which started in June. At the beginning of the year it had 29,000 base stations.

Vinaphone added almost one million connections over the past year, bringing its total to 23 million for a 16.5 per cent market share, according to GSMA Intelligence. Almost a third of its customer base are 3G users.

Last month it announced plans to almost double its mobile market share and become the second largest player in a year.

Market leader Viettel Telecom has a 47 per cent market share, while number 2 Mobifone has a 30.5 per cent share.