11:19:40 PM | 28/12/2010
Vietnam’s telecom industry estimates to have made revenues of VND200 trillion ($10.26 billion) in 2010.
The figure was released at a conference to review the implementation of the telecom and Internet development plan in 2005-2010 in Hanoi on December 23.
Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Le Nam Thang affirmed the telecom sector has become the country’s economic spearhead during the period, with an average annual growth rate of 30%-40%.
A modern telecom infrastructure system and higher competitiveness in the telecom market has helped narrow service gaps between regions in the country.
Currently, Vietnam has 162 million telephone subscribers equal to 189 telephones per 100 people, including 91% mobile phone users. The number of internet users and broadband internet subscribers has hit 26 million and 3.7 million, equal to 31% and 4.2% of the population, respectively.
The Southeast Asian nation has 11 network infrastructure enterprises and 81 Internet service providers. Some have expanded business overseas, including the military-run Viettel which has invested in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Haiti and Mozambique, while the Vietnam Post and Telecom Group (VNPT) has opened a representative office in the U.S.
In 2010, VinaPhone, MobiFone, Viettel and EVN Telecom have launched 3G networks; while the Ministry of Information and Communications has licensed five companies to pilot 4G technology.
Vietnam’s telecom revenues rose 62% to VND150 trillion in 2009 despite the global economic crisis. (Vietnam & World Economy)
Vietnamese
