VN jumps five spots in global IT index

HA NOI (VNS)— Viet Nam has been ranked 81st in the ICT Development Index for 2011, a jump of five places from the previous year's index, the Ministry of Information and Communications announced yesterday in a conference on the sidelines of the Mobile Viet Nam 2012 trade expo.

"The wireless sector, especially 3G, has been the vital factor in the development of the Vietnamese telecommunications industry in the context of globalisation" said the head of the ministry's Authority of Radio Frequency Management, Doan Cong Hoan.

Viet Nam was one of the leading nations in terms of annual IT growth out of the 155 listed on the index, Hoan noted. However, he said, the country's wireless sector was still in its fledging stages, fostering the development of digital content but with inadequate infrastructure.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Le Nam Thang told the conference that the country's IT sector earned about US$7 billion annually and considerably contributed to the overall development of the national economy.

The conference, which attracted speakers from across the industry, provided a platform for agencies and businesses to share views on the future of Viet Nam's mobile sector.

Representatives of VNPT Group addressed the topics of social networks and of developing 4G high-speed broadband, while miltary-run mobile service provider Viettel shared its experiences in investing abroad.

Telcordia Technologies showcased its solution for users to keep their phone numbers when changing providers, a project initiated by the ministry. The company, a subsidiary of Sony Ericsson, has already implemented its solution in 19 countries worldwide, enabling mobile phone subscribers to swap networks without changing their numbers.

Mobile subscriptions in Viet Nam have skyrocketed in recent years, from 19 million in 2006 to 98 million in 2009, and over 123 million by the end of September 2012. — VNS