Decision No. 14/2007/QĐ-BBCVT on approving the planning for the development of information technology and telecommunications in the Southern Key Economic Region until 2010 and orientation until 2020

DECISION

Regarding the approval of the Master Plan for Information Technology and Telecommunications Development in the Southern Key Economic Region until 2010 and orientations until 2020

southern key economic region by 2010 and orientation to 2020

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THE MINISTER OF POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

On the basis of the Ordinance on Post and Telecommunications dated May 25, 2002;

Pursuant to the Law on Information Technology dated June 29, 2006;

On the basis of Decree No. 90/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications;

On the basis of Decree No. 92/2006/NĐ-CP dated September 7, 2006 of the Government on planning, approving, and managing the overall development master plan for the economy and society;

Implementing the authorization of the Prime Minister at Official Document No. 116/TB-VPCP dated May 22, 2007 of the Government Office regarding the approval of the Master Plan for Information Technology and Telecommunications Development in the three key economic regions of the North, Central, and South;

In accordance with the proposal of the Director of the Planning and Finance Department.

DECISION:

Article 1. Approve the "Master Plan for Information Technology and Telecommunications Development in the Southern Key Economic Region until 2010 and orientations until 2020" with the following main contents:

I. VIEWS, OBJECTIVES, AND DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATIONS

1. Development Orientation

a) Develop telecommunications and information technology to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, contributing to making the Southern Key Economic Region (KETR) become a major economic, financial, and commercial center of the country and Southeast Asia, serving as a bridge for effective economic integration and cooperation with countries in the region. Vigorously develop telecommunications and information technology in Ho Chi Minh City as the core driving force for the entire Southern KETR and a dynamic support for provinces in the southern region.

b) Telecommunications is an important economic, technical, and service sector within the infrastructure, developed ahead of other sectors and comprehensively about network, technology, and services, ensuring network safety, inter-regional and national connectivity, serving well the activities of industrial zones, export processing zones, and the whole society, contributing to quickly transforming the economic structure towards modernization and sustainable development, creating a driving force for socio-economic development throughout the region, improving the quality of life for the people, effectively and promptly serving security and defense work in all situations.

c) Prioritize the development of the information technology industry as a foundation to support the development of other industries. Directly adopt advanced technology, leverage the advantage of labor potential, and intensify international cooperation to exploit new capital and technology. Foreign investment plays a top role in developing the information technology industry, particularly the hardware industry.

d) Widespread application of information technology in economic, social, cultural, and security-defense fields, especially prioritizing the development of e-government and e-commerce. Utilize information technology to innovate management methods, operational procedures, and provide substantial assistance to local government management and operation activities, moving towards building "electronic cities." Gradually provide information through networks to serve citizens and businesses, attract investment, and facilitate citizens and businesses in working with state agencies more quickly, conveniently, economically, and efficiently.

2. Objectives and development orientations

a) Develop telecommunications

- Objective by 2010

Build a modern telecommunication network infrastructure with large capacity and high speed, reliability. Make Ho Chi Minh City a high-quality, internationally recognized telecommunication service center. Develop telecommunication services to serve marine economic development, oil and gas industry, distant sea fishing, maritime services, and safety rescue management. Maintain a higher growth rate for the entire region compared to the national average, reaching 20% - 30%. Expand mobile communication coverage in rural areas. Popularize telephone and Internet services to villages by 2010. By 2010, the region's telephone density will reach 70 - 76 units per 100 inhabitants (fixed-line telephones: 22 - 24 units and mobile telephones: 48 - 52 units); the Internet usage ratio will be 45% - 50%. 100% of districts and most communes will be provided with broadband Internet services (Telecommunication Development Targets for the Southern KETR Provinces and Central Cities until 2010 in Appendix 1).

- Development orientation by 2020

Build and develop advanced and modern information and communication infrastructure that operates effectively, safely, reliably, and widely. Vigorously develop next-generation networks (NGN) to provide multiple services on a unified infrastructure. Intensify the development of broadband access networks to ensure the development of applications such as e-government, e-commerce, distance education, remote healthcare, and other applications. Mobile telecommunications networks will progress towards third-generation (3G) and subsequent systems. Develop services consistent with the convergence trend of broadcasting, television, information technology, and telecommunications technologies, timely meeting the information exchange needs of the whole society. By 2020, the level of use of telecommunications services will reach that of developed countries. The usage rate of telecommunications services in rural areas will be equal to urban areas.

b) Develop the information technology industry

- Objective by 2010

Develop the information technology industry in the Southern KETR into a leading, sustainable, high-growth, stable, and export-oriented industry. Focus on vigorously developing the information technology industry in Ho Chi Minh City, gradually turning it into an information technology industry center in Southeast Asia. The information technology industry will have an average annual growth rate of 23% - 24%. By 2010, the total value of information technology industry production will reach 3.4 - 3.7 billion USD, accounting for approximately 10% of the total value of industrial production in the region.

- Development orientation by 2020

Strive to make the information technology industry become a key economic sector with high growth rates, serving as a foundation for overall development and a driving force for rapid industrialization and modernization of the region and adjacent areas before 2015. By 2020, the value of production of the information technology industry should account for approximately 20% of the total industrial production value of the entire region. The Southern Knowledge and Technology Zone will become a center for electronic component manufacturing and software production in Southeast Asia. Ho Chi Minh City will become a strong information technology industrial center in Southeast Asia, particularly in the electronics component manufacturing and software industries.

c) Develop information technology applications

- Objective by 2010

In state agencies, the system of guidance, management, and information exchange must be smooth and timely, serving as a useful tool for administrative reform. Computerize business activities in state agencies. Build and effectively utilize information infrastructure and websites to facilitate information exchange, provision, and sharing among agencies and organizations, as well as individuals. Strive for 100% of officials and civil servants to use email and exploit information in their work.

Form and promote the development of electronic transactions and e-commerce along with the operation of organizations providing digital signature certification services. Websites of provinces and cities must provide and update comprehensive information on policies, laws, administrative procedures, working processes, investment projects, bidding, and public procurement, online activities of agencies, and investment attraction information through the internet. Citizens and businesses can quickly and easily access and use this information. Some declaration, registration, and licensing services will be conducted online.

Strengthen the application of information technology in enterprises. In Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, 60% of enterprises will implement reporting, statistics, tax declarations, business registration, and licensing through the network; over 50% of enterprises will declare, register, and handle customs procedures online. About 60% of large enterprises will master online business skills and conduct electronic transactions, while 70% of medium and small enterprises will recognize the benefits of e-commerce and apply it in their production and business operations.

- Development orientation by 2020

By 2015, complete the construction of major infrastructure projects to connect the Southern Knowledge and Technology Zone with adjacent regions, especially the Mekong Delta, South Central Coast, and Central Highlands. Ensure the safety and security of information for information technology and communication applications and development. Widespread application of information technology and communication in all fields, effectively utilizing information and knowledge across all sectors. Build and develop Vietnam Electronically with citizen, government, enterprise, and electronic transaction systems.

II. CONTENT OF THE PLAN

1. Development of Telecommunications

Develop switching networks in the region, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, cities, towns, concentrated industrial zones, high-tech zones, technical service zones, Tan Son Nhat Airport area, ports, and satellite urban areas around major cities, new urban areas.

Construct transmission networks to anticipate the development of concentrated industrial zones, high-tech zones, technical service zones, airports, ports, new urban areas, and tourist spots. Increase transmission capacity to meet the growing demand for broadband services. Facilitate the construction of submarine optical cables. Implement full optical fiberization of the region using advanced technology. Utilize advanced transmission technologies for inter-provincial and intra-provincial/intra-district networks. Build networks according to ring structure to ensure information security. Prioritize routes: Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay - Dalat; Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Vung Tau; Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho; Ben Luc - Nhon Trach - Long Thanh; National Highway 22: Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai; National Highway 50: Ho Chi Minh City - Go Cong - My Tho; National Highways N1, N2: Chon Thanh - Trang Bang - Moc Hoa - Cao Lanh. Utilize VINASAT satellites to ensure communication to remote areas and islands. Develop peripheral networks towards improving quality and modernization. By 2010, complete undergrounding of intra-district networks in cities and towns.

Develop mobile information services towards increasing capacity, enhancing coverage quality, and expanding coverage to all communes along national highways, provincial roads, and district roads. Vigorously develop broadband Internet service provision. Promote the widespread availability of the Internet to all villages in the region, bringing broadband Internet to village post offices and cultural centers.

Develop and modernize coastal information systems. Equip and modernize coastal radio stations, including those in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. Vigorously deploy public mobile networks on the sea. Construct specialized information networks to serve maritime management and control.

Develop a fair and healthy competitive market. Create conditions for telecommunications and Internet companies to cooperate and develop. Create conditions for various economic components to participate in investment and business in telecommunications and Internet services, especially in resale services and value-added services.

2. Development of Information Technology Industry

Developing the Southern High-Tech Zone to gradually become a center for hardware industry in Southeast Asia with main products being computers, industrial electronic equipment, telecommunication electronics, household electronics, audiovisual equipment, components, accessories, circuit boards, electronic chips, and electronic materials. Transitioning from assembly to self-design and manufacture of some Vietnamese brand products (computers, industrial electronic equipment, telecommunication electronics, audiovisual equipment). Adjusting the product structure towards increasing high-tech products with higher added value. Striving to increase the proportion of specialized electronic products to 50% of total electronic product output, diversifying products, and promoting export production. Developing supporting industries, producing components, and electronic materials.

Focus on developing high-tech product manufacturing with high knowledge content and low labor requirements (semiconductor production, various types of electronic chips) in Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities such as Bien Hoa and Vung Tau. Establish three to five large enterprises operating in the high-tech sector in Southeast Asia. Develop joint industrial zones for hardware and electronic product manufacturing in Dong Nai and Binh Duong. Attract investment to develop hardware industry in industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces like Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Based on exploiting land advantages and local labor resources, prepare favorable conditions to call for investment to build large-scale assembly and complete electronic equipment manufacturing plants with modern technology in provinces like Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, and Tien Giang after 2010.

Prioritize the development of software industry and content industry based on leveraging human resource advantages and cooperation relationships between Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities in the region with overseas Vietnamese. Focus on developing the Southern High-Tech Zone, with Ho Chi Minh City as the core, to become a center for software production and information technology services in Southeast Asia. The Ho Chi Minh City area will attract investment to develop the software industry at Quang Trung Software Park, Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park, Saigon Software Park, and other hi-tech parks. Strengthen infrastructure investment to attract export-oriented software development projects. Enhance training of high-level IT human resources to meet the development needs of the information technology industry, software industry, and content industry. Study the establishment of an information technology science and technology transfer center and a high-level IT human resource training center for the entire region.

3. Development of Information Technology Applications

a) Application of Information Technology in State Management

Develop technical infrastructure for information technology, focusing on building dedicated networks for the Government. Continue constructing management and control information systems at provincial levels; upgrade and expand information systems at provincial specialized agencies to districts and counties. Gradually implement information technology applications at commune-level agencies. Concentrate on directing the implementation of the following key contents:

+ Completing the construction of information management and control systems from the Government to provincial People's Committees in the region;

+ Building regional information systems and databases, especially population, business, natural resources, and environmental statistics databases serving state management and economic-social development in the region, based on national information architecture and integrated with databases of ministries, sectors, and localities;

+ Building and completing financial, banking, customs information systems;

+ Applying information technology in civil servant management, household registration, population management, and other administrative services;

+ Applying information technology in urban planning management, aiming to establish a unified database on planning and implementation management;

+ Promoting the application of information technology in the activities of state agencies in Ho Chi Minh City and expanding to other localities.

Implement online public administrative services in provinces and cities where sufficient resources and internet user density exist. Focus on directing the implementation of the following key contents: receiving and processing complaints and petitions through the network; online business registration; online land use and construction permit issuance; online tax declaration and initial online tax collection; online customs declaration, registration, and procedures; online vehicle registration; online procurement of public assets.

b) Application of Information Technology in Production and Business

Encourage and support enterprises in applying information technology. Promote publicity and promotion of information technology application, e-commerce, ensuring favorable conditions for e-commerce development, and encouraging online transaction forms. Support the development of some standard models for information technology application in production and business, trade development, and electronic transactions in Ho Chi Minh City, and draw lessons to replicate them among enterprises in the region and nationwide. Form consulting and implementation enterprises providing ideas and solutions for information technology application.

c) Application of Information Technology in Education, Training, and Healthcare

Actively innovate teaching and learning methods based on the application of information technology. Promote remote training through networks. Strengthen the provision of computers and computer networks for schools. Gradually introduce information technology courses into the regular curriculum at all levels of general education. Vigorously apply information technology to educational management, gradually building an educational management information system. Develop and popularize electronic management systems to hospitals in the region. Gradually build an information and knowledge system about healthcare and health care advice. Implement cooperative programs for remote treatment and health care between hospitals within the province, and between provincial-level hospitals in the region and central hospitals.

d) Apply information technology to serve rural development

Develop programs to enhance awareness and disseminate knowledge about information technology among the people. Gradually apply information technology to provide scientific and technological information serving economic and social development in rural areas. Vigorously use geographic information systems (GIS) to serve planning for agriculture and forestry, forest management, land management. Vigorously implement programs to普及信息技术知识，提高农民对信息技术的认识，逐步将信息技术应用于提供服务于农村经济和社会发展的科技信息。大力使用地理信息系统（GIS）服务于农业和林业规划、森林管理和土地管理。积极推进计算机普及和网络知识青年计划，旨在逐步使信息技术渗入农民的生活中，缩小城乡之间的差距。

III. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. Regarding mechanisms and policies

a) Mechanisms and policies for the development of telecommunications

- Inter-departmental coordination

Issue inter-departmental regulations on the coordination of planning and construction of integrated infrastructure networks. All transportation construction projects must be notified to all telecommunications service providers with permits. Telecommunications enterprises base their needs and capabilities to develop network construction projects (optical cables, copper cables) and submit them to the construction project investors six months before construction, clearly defining the construction schedule and related solutions to the construction project. The power industry informs telecommunications enterprises of plans for power transmission lines and optical cable systems along power lines. Telecommunications enterprises proactively negotiate with the power industry on joint investment and use of optical cables along power lines.

- Coordination between departments and localities

Provinces and cities notify telecommunications enterprises of plans for urban area construction. Telecommunications enterprises develop network construction projects and submit them to localities six months before construction, clearly defining the progress of each component and project. Provinces create favorable conditions for enterprises with construction projects for communication lines and auxiliary facilities in industrial parks; offer preferential leasing of land and service provision rights to enterprises constructing networks and service points in industrial parks and tourist areas. Telecommunications enterprises providing intracity services should take full advantage of conditions to underground intracity networks. In cases where multiple enterprises have the need to construct peripheral cables, they are required to share the same infrastructure.

- Reselling services and shared use of telecommunications infrastructure

Encourage all economic sectors to participate in service provision through agency and access point models. Encourage and not limit telecommunications enterprises to resell services within industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech zones based on leasing domestic and international long-distance channels. Encourage enterprises to actively develop plans for shared use of infrastructure when their investment projects and network development plans are approved. Gradually implement the mechanism of separating intracity loops. Study and establish a model for infrastructure network service providers in the form of a joint-stock company.

- Reforming the organizational management of production and business operations and activities of enterprises

Establish policies to encourage enterprises to invest in infrastructure, expand networks, and services to rural areas, remote regions, and difficult areas. Effectively utilize the Universal Service Fund for particularly difficult regions. Establish special mechanisms and policies for the KTTĐ region: bidding mechanisms, equipment procurement policies for developing network infrastructure, pricing policies for service fees and interconnection fees between operators in the region, investment incentives for infrastructure development; gradually abolish the fixed-line inter-provincial call rate mechanism, applying appropriate service rates throughout the region.

- Ensuring information security and safety

Develop and improve regulations on ensuring information security and safety on telecommunications and Internet networks. Build, improve, and enhance the capacity of the system for responding to and resolving computer incidents and preventing cybercrime. Apply cryptographic technologies and solutions to increase the reliability and security of transactions on telecommunications and Internet networks.

b) Mechanisms and policies for the development of the information technology industry

Create a transparent and favorable investment environment for foreign investors, especially multinational corporations investing in the development of the information technology industry in industrial parks in the region. Link industrial parks, high-tech zones, and enterprises with research institutes and universities in the region to contribute positively to the transformation of product structures towards higher knowledge content.

c) Mechanisms and policies for the development of information technology applications

Encourage all economic sectors to invest in the development of information technology applications, especially e-commerce. Encourage the widespread adoption of successful information technology application models. Support and encourage enterprises to implement enterprise resource management software systems. Publicly tender information technology projects and procurements by government agencies. Promptly issue standards for information technology.

d) Mechanisms and policies for the development of human resources

Study to develop mechanisms and policies to encourage all economic sectors to invest in developing human resources in information technology, outsourcing policies for local information technology application projects, policies to attract Vietnamese individuals with high qualifications in information technology working abroad; incentive policies for teams of management, economic, and technical experts who meet international integration and increasingly fierce competition requirements to attract quality labor for the development of telecommunications and information technology.

2. On capital mobilization

Strengthen efforts to attract investment capital for the development of telecommunications and information technology in the Southern Key Economic Zone. Optimize the use of domestic capital for investment in telecommunications development. Focus on capital raised through corporate shareholding and service sales. Utilize Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds to support rural, mountainous, remote, and far-flung areas' telecommunications development and public utility services. Effectively utilize the public telecommunications service fund. Develop and implement programs to call for investment from leading global information technology companies. Provide preferential treatment for projects with high intellectual content that utilize and exploit high-quality human resources at localities and those with plans to transfer technology to Vietnam. Emphasize attracting overseas Vietnamese investment in software industry development. Concentrate state capital on key information technology industrial projects with high technological content and added value. Mobilize various sources of capital for information technology applications, especially government-related projects. Balance budgets to ensure the implementation of key projects and build infrastructure for information technology applications. (List of key projects for developing telecommunications and information technology in the Southern Key Economic Zone is attached in Appendix 2).

3. On human resource development

Vigorously train high-quality human resources to serve the development of telecommunications and information technology. Reallocate the workforce in the information technology industry within the region towards gradually shifting low-value-added product manufacturing facilities using large amounts of labor to industrial zones with lower land and labor costs. Promote awareness, understanding, and application capabilities of information technology among officials, civil servants, employees, citizens, and businesses. Promote socialized education and attract investment capital for information technology training. Enhance leadership training in information technology for state agencies. Increase computer teaching and learning in secondary and junior high schools.

4. On scientific and technological development

Focus on researching and developing new technology applications and transfers. Accelerate the socialization of science and technology activities. Improve the effectiveness of scientific and technological organizations. Efficiently utilize venture capital funds in the field of science and technology. Establish coordination mechanisms between universities, research units, and enterprises in implementing research projects on telecommunications and information technology.

Article 2.Implementation organization

1. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is the lead agency, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees to guide enterprises to develop synchronized telecommunications network infrastructure in line with other industries' planning, particularly transportation, urban, industrial zone, and water supply and drainage planning; coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to formulate and propose policies to promote telecommunications network infrastructure development, information technology industry development, and encourage and accelerate information technology application in the Southern Key Economic Zone; organize inspections of planning implementation and periodically compile results to report to the Prime Minister.

2. Provincial People's Committees in the Southern Key Economic Zone shall develop (or adjust, supplement) planning for telecommunications and information technology development in their respective provinces and cities according to this planning orientation; incorporate implementation contents of this planning into annual and five-year plans.

3. Enterprises operating in the telecommunications and information technology sector shall base this planning to develop business strategies and plans consistent with the telecommunications and information technology development orientation in the Southern Key Economic Zone and in line with the implementation progress of local and other sectoral planning.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of governmental agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees, and related units are responsible for implementing this Decision./.