Vietnam, UK increase telecom cooperation

They will also create favourable conditions for their information technology businesses to expand cooperation and seek investment opportunities.

The agreement was reached at a working session in London on April 30 between UK Office of Communications (OFCOM) leaders and visiting Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son.

Son spoke glowingly of the assistance OFCOM has provided Vietnamese broadcasting and telecommunications management agencies over the past years in developing a healthy and competitive marketplace.

The Vietnamese telecom sector has developed strongly over the past 20 years, especially in mobile communication and internet development, which is expected to continue, said Son.

The country currently has 13 businesses developing telecom infrastructure and 90 businesses providing telecom services, especially internet services.

It has more than 135 million telephone subscribers, including 126 million mobile phone subscribers, and over 31 million Internet subscribers. There are currently 67 radio and television stations at central and local levels throughout the country. 

A premiere success of the sector came with the launching of the nation’s first telecommunications satellites (VINASAT 1 & 2), culminating in the launching of VNREDSat-1 - its first optical Earth observing satellite which is now in permanent orbit.

Total revenues of the telecommunication sector were an astounding US$9.9 billion last year, Son concluded, contributing significantly to the strong economic development the country is experiencing.

The country has also permitted businesses to pilot the Long Term Evolution (LTE) services in an effort to develop 4G mobile phone services by 2015.

OFCOM leaders shared the UK’s experience in telecom development and management, including television digitalization. They pledged to consider Vietnam’s proposal for support of its nomination for membership of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).