Vietnam boosts digital infrastructure in telecommunications

With the development and convergence of current information technology (IT), telecommunications infrastructure is now transforming into digital infrastructure, said Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long at the World Mobile Broadband and ICT Summit 2022 held in Hanoi on March 9.

Vietnam is accompanying the world in building digital infrastructure, Long said, adding that digital transformation is taking place in all fields and has been accelerating.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long speaks at the summit. Photo: Pham Le

“The telecommunications industry is looking for institutionalization to both supervise and promote digital transformation, making the process a foundation for the development of the digital economy and digital society,” the deputy minister noted.

He added that the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has set out a goal that Vietnam will master broadband infrastructure, 5G equipment infrastructure, and make-in-Vietnam technology platforms.

“Regarding digital transformation, digital infrastructure development, and digital platforms, the country needs to have a digital institution based on practical experiences in Vietnam from other countries,” the official said.

According to statistics of the MIC's Authority of Telecommunications, in 2021, Vietnam had 70.9 million mobile broadband subscribers, accounting for over 57% of total mobile subscriptions and representing an increase of more than 4% compared to 2020.

In 2022, the authority sets the goal of having 100% of adults owning a smartphone, 75% of households installing fiber optic internet, and 85% of mobile broadband subscribers per 100 people.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Radio and Electronics Association Doan Quang Hoan said that broadband telecommunications services in general and wireless broadband, in particular, are playing an important role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

He suggested that digital data and data infrastructure but must be institutionalized to both manage and promote development.

“Currently, 80% of Vietnamese data is created abroad. It is necessary to produce data in Vietnam, and aim for revenues from the national data infrastructure to account for 1% of GDP by 2025,” Hoan stressed.

At the summit, experts exchanged methods for management, investment, product development and doing business on high-tech telecommunications platforms.

At the summit, experts also exchanged methods for management, investment, product development, and doing business on high-tech telecommunications platforms.

This is a specialized conference jointly organized by the Vietnam Radio Electronics Association and the International Data Group (IDG Vietnam) with the theme “Modernizing telecommunications infrastructure and digital content services towards toward the promotion of a digital economy and society”.