From a service under the State's monopoly, the sector has formed a post and telecommunications and Internet service market. Besides the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT), there are six State-owned enterprises licensed to trade in the telecommunications network and hundreds of Internet service and information technology providers.
Meanwhile, all communes nationwide have access to the telephone network, compared with only 57 percent in 1995. The mobile phone network has been extended to all cities and provinces. The sector has attracted more than 3.2 million Internet subscribers and around 12 million Internet users, accounting for 14.3 percent of the population. The sector has continuously and rapidly upgraded Internet connection speeds and provided broadband, high-speed and wireless Internet services to customers.
With 6,000 international communication channels, VNPT is now capable of meeting the strong demand for high quality international telecommunication services. Viet Nam has eliminated the telecommunication cost gap between Viet Nam and other countries in the region.
Furthermore, the sector has also paid great attention to information technology development, leading to application of various software products in many areas, focusing on business administration, document, personnel and financial system management as well as other services such as voice mail and Info Gate systems.
Another noteworthy achievement is the operation of the national information network, which is capable of supplying multiple information services. Information technology has been widely applied to many sectors, stressing e-business, e-government, e-learning and e-medical treatment.
Under the national Internet and telecommunications development scheme from now through 2010 that was recently approved by the Government, Viet Nam targets to increase telephone subscription density to 32-42 per 100 people and Internet subscription density to 8-12 per 100 people and help 25-30 percent of the country's total population gain access to the Internet.
Quelle: Vietnam Economic Times, 17.04.2006
