Vietnamobile – formerly known as HT Mobile – will launch its new mobile network in Vietnam tomorrow as it completes its technology migration from CDMA to GSM, reports Cellular News. The operator is a joint venture between Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecom and Hanoi Telecom. The new GSM network will launch across 64 provinces in Vietnam. “The launch of Vietnamobile completes Hutchison Telecom’s strategic step of re-launching the operation with GSM technology,” said Hutchison Telecom CEO Dennis Lui.

According to Cellular News, HT Mobile began its switch to GSM last year using kit from Ericsson, having previously used a Nortel-based CDMA network. The migration leaves rival S-Fone as the only major CDMA operator in the country. Vietnamobile’s existing CDMA customers will roam on S-Fone’s network but will be required to switch to GSM once the new network matches the CDMA network in terms of coverage. According to Wireless Intelligence data, Vietnam had 57.2 million mobile connections by year-end 2008. The market-leader is Viettel (22 million), followed by MobiFone (15.7 million) and Vinaphone (15 million). All three of the largest operators are GSM-based. The country awarded its first 3G licenses last week.