Top ten events in post, telecommunications and IT sector in 2006

The Ministry of Post and Telematics (MPT) held a press conference in Hanoi on December 26 to announce the top ten events in the post, telecommunications and IT sector in 2006. Addressing the conference, Minister Lai said the events are remarkable milestones of the whole sector in 2006.

1. The Law on Information Technology was unanimously passed on June 22, 2006 at the 9th session of the 11th National Assembly of Vietnam. Other important laws, such as the e-transaction law, decrees and programmes were also formulated and submitted to the Government for approval. The programmes focused on developing e-industry, software industry, and digital industry in order to create a legal corridor for Vietnam’s IT development.

2. Vietnam has reached a record level of phone subscription, around 10 million subscribers per year. By the end of 2006, Vietnam has 25.5 million of telephone users and more than 4 million of Internet subscribers and 8,000 commune-based cultural post offices. The impressive growth of the broadband internet and the MPT’s permission for organisations to register second level domain name has held great potential for development of the Vietnamese telecoms market.

3. The IT sector has affirmed its important role in national development, as it was confirmed in the Hanoi Declaration of the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the ASEM ICT Ministerial Meeting held in Hanoi at the initiative of Vietnam.

4. Vietnam is an attractive and reliable destination for information technology investment. Therefore, Intel Corporation has invested US$1 billion in Vietnam and President of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates has visited Vietnam recently. Japanese hi-tech and electronics enterprises have also committed to investing nearly US$1 billion in northern Ha Tay province and other provinces.

5. Vietnam is the third country in the world to be exploring digital television services on mobile phones. Vietnam Multimedia Corporation (VTC) launched an online digital television service on mobile phones on November 10, 2006. On December 27, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group also successfully tested WiMAX technology in northern Lao Cai province, making VNPT the first operator in Vietnam to test WiMAX technology, followed by the Army Telecoms Company (Viettel) and VTC. This fact has shown that Vietnam always takes the lead in implementing new technologies in the field of Information Communication Technology.

6. Vietnam is actively prepared to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) “playground”. On November 8, 2006, just one day after Vietnam joined the WTO, the Vietnamese Government granted a business license to the DHL-VNPT Express Ltd Co. - the first joint venture licensed to operate in the field of express delivery service.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Post and Telematics allowed the FPT Telecom to provide land-line services, and allowed the SPT to establish networks and supply domestic and international telecom services. A contract to produce and launch VINASAT was signed and implemented by the VNPT in order to bridge the digital gap and increase Vietnam’s position in the integration process. These activities have demonstrated the flexibility of Vietnam’s post and telecommunication sector to quickly enter the WTO “playground”

7. The most modern information system has been put into operation to serve the 14th APEC Summit which was the largest international event ever hosted by Vietnam so far. To serve the summit, Vietnam used a large-scale and modern information system to serve press and communication activities, ensuring security for the summit.

8. Vietnamese telecommunication businesses have expanded operations to overseas market. Viettel is Vietnam’s first enterprise providing telecommunication services in foreign markets. The firm has provided VoIP, mobile and Internet services for Cambodia, invested in Laos to produce copper cables, and set up a representative office in the US. Investments in foreign markets have bolded well for domestic telecommunication businesses, created a prerequisite for other enterprises to enter the international market

9. Cooperation and competition: New thinking of Vietnamese telecommunication businesses. On December 1, 2006, many domestic telecommunication businesses signed cooperative agreements fowling the “economic contract” mechanism based on the Decision No12 of the Ministry of Post and Telematics. Some enterprises, such as Viettel Mobile, VinaPhone and MobiPhone are cooperating with each other in order to use the common infrastructure and increase the quality of services. The close cooperation and healthy competition reflect a new way of thinking by Vietnamese telecommunication businesses in implementing the post and telecommunication sector’s integration and development strategy.

10. An order has been set up for businesses involved in the field of online gaming.

Six enterprises providing 13 online games in Vietnam have been fined by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Post and Telematics for the first time. This affirmed the important role of information technology and post and telecommunication management agencies in localities.

(Source: VOV)