~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
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[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

Vietnam post and telecommunication corp surpasses 2001 targets

HANOI - The Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Corporation (VNPT) has surpassed this year's targets for turnover and developing telephone network and internet services. As a result, nearly 90 per cent of communes nationwide have access to telephones, with five telephones for every 100 persons, and subscribers of internet services numbers 160,000.

This year, the General Department of Post and Telecommunications (GDPT) has also allowed three other companies to supply domestic and international telephone service. They are the joint stock Sai Gon Post and Telecommunication Service Company, the Electronics and Telecommunications Company of the Army, and the Telecommunications Company of the electricity sector. This effort enables different businesses to compete in providing telecom services, although the telecom industry remains a State monopoly. The GDPT has also permitted four companies to provide internet services. Internet providers can diversify their services. Over recent years, the government has given priority to developing the post and telecommunications industry. However, the sector faces great challenges in global integration. The GDPT has worked out a strategy for the development of Vietnam's post and telecommunications from now to 2010 and the orientation of the sector's development to 2020.

From now to 2010, a national telecommunication network with high capacity and quality will be developed, one which will link all districts nationwide with wide-band transmission methods and which uses modern technology including fibre-optic cable lines, satellite, microwave, and wireless transmission systems. The sector has set a target of developing the telephone network to between 8 and 10 sets for every 100 persons in 2005, and between 15-18 sets by 2010.

Vietnam News Agency - December 19, 2001.