VNPost Secures MVNO License – A New Chapter for Vietnam’s National Postal Services

The Ministry of Science and Technology recently granted Vietnam Post Corporation (VNPost) a license to operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Although the company has not issued an official comment, it has begun inviting qualified partners to collaborate on information technology solutions for the deployment and operation of a mobile virtual network.

VNPost is a newcomer in the telecommunications space. It currently lacks the direct operational experience possessed by traditional carriers. To address these gaps, the corporation has recruited personnel from established operators like MobiFone and VNPT, which is not always the best idea when launching an MVNO.

VNPost maintains a network of more than 13,000 service points at the commune and district levels across the country. These locations provide direct contact with citizens, businesses, and local authorities, reaching areas that many technology and telecommunications firms struggle to penetrate.

Because customer acquisition costs represent a significant burden for mobile operators, VNPost holds a distinct advantage. By utilizing its existing transaction points, sales teams, and large customer base for postal, logistics, and financial services, the company could theoretically lower its acquisition costs compared to other market participants.

Furthermore, as the government promotes digital transformation at the local level, VNPost has an opportunity to serve customer groups in rural, mountainous, and remote areas where demand for digital services is rising but remains underserved.

Success will depend on whether VNPost avoids the pitfalls of treating the SIM card as its primary product. Because data rates are already among the lowest in the region, consumers are rarely motivated to switch providers based on minor differences in pricing or data volume. Instead of competing on connectivity alone, VNPost must focus on integrating mobile services into its existing ecosystem.

The corporation is already active in areas such as e-commerce, pension payments, social security benefits, banking agency services, and public administration. By embedding mobile connectivity into these services, the SIM card becomes a tool to bridge customers with the wider VNPost portfolio.

For example, customers opening payment accounts at post offices might activate eSIMs via an app, or businesses using delivery services could receive integrated packages for order management and invoicing.

In addition to the individual market, another MVNO opportunity for VNPost would be Internet of Things (IoT).

As a company with a nationwide logistics network, VNPost operates a large number of vehicles, warehouses, and monitoring equipment. In the near future, this entire system will need to be interconnected to support route management, vehicle monitoring, AI cameras, sensors, and smart logistics applications.

VNPost is not alone in its pursuit of mobile services. Globally, national postal operators have increasingly turned to the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model as a strategic response to declining traditional mail volumes and the need for digital diversification. By leveraging their extensive physical infrastructure and high levels of public trust, these organizations aim to transform their role from traditional delivery services into multifaceted digital platform providers.

The most prominent example of this strategy is Italy’s Poste Italiane. Through its subsidiary, PosteMobile, the group launched mobile services in 2007, eventually growing into one of the largest MVNOs in Italy with 4.85 million subscribers (as of 2025).

PosteMobile succeeded by deeply integrating its mobile offerings with its existing financial and insurance services, using the company’s vast network of post offices to drive sales. Its ability to bundle mobile connectivity with banking and postal transactions made it a textbook example of how a legacy organization can effectively use its physical footprint to gain a foothold in a competitive telecommunications market.

Another notable historical instance is France’s La Poste Mobile. By capitalizing on its reputation and widespread physical presence, the company captured a significant market share before its eventual acquisition. La Poste Mobile continues to leverage the Group’s massive footprint of more than 17,000 post offices and local contact points across France. With a customer base of approximately 2.4 million, it offers a diverse portfolio that includes SIM-only mobile plans, prepaid services, and fixed-line fiber internet.

The Brazilian postal service, Correios, launched its own MVNO service, Correios Celular, in 2017. Correios Celular operates in partnership with Surf Telecom, which acts as the MVNO enabler, and utilizes the physical mobile network of TIM Brasil. This allows the state-owned postal company to focus on its core strength: distribution and customer interaction through its vast network of physical post offices.

An Post Mobile in Ireland also serves as a prime example of a successful, enduring postal MVNO. Unlike the UK’s Post Office, which eventually exited the mobile sector, An Post Mobile has maintained a steady presence by operating as a lean, consumer-focused virtual operator.

The company focuses its resources on brand trust and accessibility. Its strategy centers on providing simple, no-frills, prepaid mobile plans that are easily accessible through its extensive nationwide retail network. This physical reach allows An Post to provide the face-to-face assistance that remains highly valued in rural communities, effectively turning every post office into a service hub.

By integrating mobile connectivity into the broader An Post Money and retail ecosystem, the operator has successfully transformed the SIM card from a mere commodity into a component of a wider suite of essential community and financial services.

Ultimately, as VNPost enters this space, it can look to these international counterparts for a roadmap on how to manage the transition. The challenge for these organizations is consistently the same: shifting the corporate culture from a focus on physical logistics to a customer-centric digital experience.

Those that succeed are the ones that manage to use their mobile networks as a tool to improve, rather than replace, their foundational postal mission.