VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi's Information and Communications Department yesterday, Nov 5, suggested that online games businesses should relocate to amusement zones in supermarkets to allow the city to manage the sector more easily.

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The idea was proposed during a meeting to establish new management policies for online games businesses between the Ministry of Information and Communications and Ha Noi's authorities.

Head of the department Pham Quoc Ban said the city had already shut down games shops within 200m of schools and had instructed ISPs to cut services to games shops after 11pm.

He however said that these methods had not been particularly effective. Many shops closed their doors at 11pm but remained open for business using alternative internet connections, Ban added.

"When all online game businesses are situated in specified areas such as supermarkets, it will be easier to control the game content and their opening hours," he said.

The majority of officials in the meeting agreed with Ban's arguments but some still doubted the practicality of his ideas.

"Many supermarkets including Hapro have already agreed to accommodate online games businesses and have even said they won't charge them any rent for the first few months," Ban said.

According to him in September only, Ha Noi closed down more than 300 online game shops that broke the city's regulations.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News