October 12, 2006	Thursday	Ramazan 18, 1427

HANOI, Oct 11: Vietnam, one of the world's fastest growing telecom markets, expects to privatise its three major telecoms next year with the government keeping the majority of the stakes, officials said on Wednesday.

State-owned Vinaphone, MobiFone and the army's Viettel said earlier this year they would open their mobile activities to the public without providing any firm calendar dates.

“We plan to equitise them next year, according to a programme approved by the government in 2005,” said Nguyen Khac Lap, office manager of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.—AFP