VietNamNet Bridge - A broadband development programme was highlighted at the two-day 4th Annual Viet Nam International Telecoms Summit 2011, endorsed by the Ministry of Information and Communications and Hong Kong Beacon Events Ltd, which started June 1.

Do Vu Anh, director of the telecoms division for Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group, said that combining fixed and wireless broadband would be effective in enabling universal connectivity.

"Flat rates play an important role in developing the broadband market," he added.

Mario Maniewicz, chief of policy and strategy at the International Telecommunications Union, noted that Viet Nam should clarify a legal framework for its telecommunications sector.

"The first wave of regulatory reform should include market liberalisation to drive investment. The second wave should focus on designing and implementing a flexible, non-discriminatory, technology- and service-neutral regulatory framework in order to create incentives for both large and small operators."

Pham Manh Lam, vice president of the National Institute of Information and Communications Strategy, said: "The new telecoms law has been put into place in order for the private sector to establish a telecoms infrastructure and provide telecoms services."

He added that the granting of valuable resources could be implemented by auction.

Information and Communications Minister Le Doan Hop said that Viet Nam, during recent years, had made significant advances in telecommunications despite the global economic depression, releasing LTE licences (the latest standard in mobile network technology that produces GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies).

"The 4th Summit, with participation from 250 domestic and international delegates, including ICT policymakers, telecommunications operators and service providers, is a forum for solutions and recommendations that could help transform Viet Nam into a ICT-strong nation," Hop stated.

Lam revealed that the Government had licensed 13 facility-based operators and 89 service-based operators.

The development of fixed broadband has seen an annual growth rate of 77 per cent per year from 2006 to 2010. Despite growth, penetration remained low, with only four out of every 100 inhabitants being fixed broadband subscribers last year, two-thirds of which hail from Ha Noi and HCM City.

Vice President of the SingTel International Group Lee Han Kheng said that low penetration had great potential for strong growth in advancing broadband networks.

Five wireless broadband providers were licensed to provide 4G services for a one-year trial while only 10-15 per cent mobile subscribers used 3G services. The content of both 3 and 4G services could still not be seen as a driving factor in broadband development.

"Viet Nam's satellite covers the whole country, but at a high price. We plan to launch a second satellite next year in order to ensure the development of our broadband system," Lam said pointing out many opportunities for the future of Vietnamese broadband.

"Viet Nam is a country with a young population, 55 per cent under 15, who are able to come to grips with new technology very quickly. Service providers are currently investing in network infrastructures nationwide.

Viet Nam's strategic initiatives include building a nationwide broadband infrastructure, with mobile broadband networks covering 95 per cent of the country by 2020," Lam said.

Source: VNS