Decision No. 33/2002/QĐ-TTg approves the Plan for Internet Development in Vietnam for the period 2001-2005.

DECISION

Approving the Plan for Internet Development in Vietnam for the Period 2001-2005

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Directive No. 58-CT/TW dated October 17, 2000 of the Politburo on accelerating the application and development of information technology in the industrialization and modernization process during the period 2001-2005; Decision No. 81/2001/QĐ-TTg dated October 18, 2001 of the Prime Minister approving the Action Program to implement the aforementioned Directive;

On the basis of Decree No. 55/2001/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 2001 of the Government on management, provision, and use of Internet services;

Pursuant to Decision No. 158/2001/QĐ-TTg dated October 18, 2001 of the Prime Minister approving the "Strategy for the Development of Postal and Telecommunications in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientation until 2020";

Considering the proposal of the General Post Office at Report No. 1261/TCBĐ dated October 25, 2001 regarding the Plan for Internet Development in Vietnam for the Period 2001-2005;

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the Plan for Internet Development in Vietnam for the Period 2001-2005 with the following main contents:

I. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives:

Accelerating the widespread use of Internet in all economic, cultural, social, security, and defense activities with high quality and lower or equivalent prices compared to other countries in the region.

Developing the Internet infrastructure into a favorable environment for various types of electronic services such as e-commerce, administrative services, journalism, postal services, telecommunications, finance, banking, distance education, healthcare over the network... serving the industrialization and modernization of the country.

Creating a competitive environment with many enterprises providing Internet connection services (IXP), access services (ISP), and application services (OSP).

2. Specific development targets

a) Regarding the widespread use of Internet:

In 2002-2003: all research institutes, universities, colleges, vocational schools will be connected to the Internet;

By 2005: achieving an average density of 1.3 to 1.5 subscribers per 100 people, the ratio of Internet users being 4 to 5%, aiming to reach this regional average level by 2010; approximately 50% of secondary schools, 100% of central hospitals, and more than 50% of provincial hospitals will be connected to the Internet; all Ministries, sectors, administrative agencies, provincial and district authorities will be connected to the Internet and the Government's wide area network; most officials and civil servants will use the Internet to serve their professional work and electronic government administration.

Ensuring Internet services for the development of e-commerce, banking, financial, customs services, etc.

b) Expanding the market with equal competition among Internet service providers: by 2005, there will be 3 to 5 IXP, 30 to 40 ISP, and numerous OSP granted licenses to operate.

II. MAIN MEASURES

1. Completing the legal system, enhancing state management capacity over the Internet

a) Implementing Decree No. 55/2001/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 2001 of the Government on the management, provision, and use of Internet services:

Publicizing policies, simplifying licensing procedures in the field of Internet: in 2002, announcing conditions, procedures for issuing licenses, the number of licenses for Internet connection, access, and application services; establishing legal regulations for important electronic services such as payment, certification on the Internet...

Establishing a system of technical standards for information technology, network, and Internet services; standardizing Vietnamese language on computer networks and software display, Vietnamese-language websites.

Improving technical measures to ensure information security, safety, and protection against hackers and viruses to maintain the quality of Internet networks and services, the Government's electronic information system connected to the Internet; building encryption and decryption mechanisms; completing legal provisions for punishing criminal acts related to computers and the Internet.

b) Effectively managing Internet resources: Enhancing the capacity of the Vietnam National Internet Information Center (VNNIC); modernizing resource management systems, national domain name servers (DNS); ensuring sovereignty and efficient use of Vietnamese Internet domain names and addresses.

c) Implementing appropriate pricing policies, using efficiently and economically:

Starting from 2002, reducing Internet access fees to the regional average level; lowering telecommunication charges for Internet development to cost levels; reforming price and fee management policies according to market mechanisms; promoting enterprises to improve service quality and reduce costs for Internet services.

Building support mechanisms for the electronics, IT, and telecommunications industries; encouraging domestic assembly and production of low-cost, suitable-quality Internet access terminal devices (such as: computers, Web TVs, Palms...); encouraging scientific research institutions, educational and training organizations, and healthcare facilities to develop software industries; supporting government agencies, Party organizations, and political-social organizations in using the Internet and benefiting from information technology; implementing programs to save, collect old machines free of charge for community education centers and low-income individuals to reuse.

2. Developing telecommunications infrastructure to serve Internet development

Reasonably investing in and effectively utilizing telecommunications networks; reaching the regional average level for international Internet gateway capacity; meeting the quantity and quality requirements for transmission lines and dedicated channels for Internet services for the entire society with high reliability and safety, especially community networks such as: education, healthcare, banking, finance, customs...; serving the effective use of the Government's wide-area computer network (CP.net).

By 2005, developing public telephone networks capable of Internet access to all communes; expanding direct Internet access points (POP) in all provinces and cities; applying new technologies to increase the capacity of copper cable and partially optical fiber networks for high-speed Internet access in major cities and concentrated industrial zones; expanding Internet access capabilities outside the telecommunications network (such as: cable television, power...); developing Internet services in mobile communications, public Internet access points, and Internet agents with appropriate pricing.

3. Developing Internet access application services

a) Establishing a system of databases and Vietnamese language electronic information content:

Building national and specialized databases to serve the informatization of management and operation of the Government in accordance with Decision No. 112/2001/QĐ-TTg dated July 25, 2001 of the Prime Minister; gradually digitizing research libraries, training institutions, and forming public electronic information repositories at the national level.

Prioritizing the creation of diverse Vietnamese language electronic information content to meet domestic Internet access needs; encouraging agencies, enterprises, and Internet service providers to organize diverse sources of electronic information databases; gradually socializing the provision of content on the network, focusing on information serving the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, disseminating knowledge to farmers.

b) Investing in the development of Internet application services:

Applying information technology processes and Internet to serve the "electronic public administration" platform, initially for services related to licensing, population management, land, vehicle registration, customs, tax, etc.

Applying Internet-based electronic services in journalism, postal services, telecommunications, finance, banking, education and training online, telemedicine; gradually developing e-commerce, forming habits of business transactions between enterprises, households, and individuals through the Internet, moving towards the widespread digitalization of all commercial activities.

4. Enhancing awareness and habits of using information technology and the Internet

Making information technology and the Internet compulsory programs at all educational levels, creating necessary knowledge bases for society; establishing information technology training centers and community Internet facilities.

Continuously enhancing knowledge about information technology and Internet service usage for managers at all levels, sectors, and enterprises; raising enterprise awareness about the application of information technology and the Internet in an international competitive environment.

III. MOBILIZING RESOURCES

Encouraging all economic sectors to invest in the development of Internet application services and access, public Internet agency services. Telecommunication enterprises should reasonably invest in developing networks to promote Internet accessibility (with necessary state support for remote, difficult regions).

Investing in appropriate proportions from state budget funds, ODA, and enterprise capital for Internet access networks serving the community such as: education and training (Edu.net), health (Health.net); informatized administrative management networks where priority is given to budget allocation for projects on building systems and electronic databases to serve education and training.

Article 2. Assignment of Tasks for Plan Implementation:

1. The General Post Office shall be the lead coordinating body for implementing this Plan, summarizing, evaluating, and drawing lessons learned, proposing plans and measures for implementation in the next phase;

Directing telecommunication and Internet enterprises to develop infrastructure networks to promote Internet service accessibility; taking the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to study and apply new Internet access technologies outside the telecommunication network;

Preparing and submitting to the Prime Minister the proposal "Reforming Management Policies on Tariffs and Rates for Telecommunications and Internet Services until 2005"; implementing the proposal "Enhancing Management Capacity for Vietnam's Domain Names and IP Addresses 2002-2004"; establishing and promulgating standards for network quality and Internet services.

2. By the end of the second quarter of 2002, relevant ministries and sectors shall issue complete guidance documents for Decree No. 55/2001/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 2001 of the Government on the management, provision, and use of Internet services.

3. The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment shall establish and promulgate a system of information technology standards; standardizing Vietnamese language on computer networks uniformly; coordinating with the General Post Office and the Ministry of Public Security to propose national measures to prevent cybercrime and viruses.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall establish and implement proposals for developing networks and educational services applied on the Internet (Edu.net).

5. The Ministry of Health shall establish and implement proposals for developing networks and health services applied on the Internet (Health.net).

6. The Ministry of Trade shall submit to the Prime Minister proposals and programs to promote the development of e-commerce in Vietnam.

7. The Ministry of Justice shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to supplement regulations on penalties for crimes related to computers and the Internet.

8. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead in establishing electronic databases to serve the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, disseminating knowledge to farmers via the Internet.

9. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to establish and implement the "Reusing and Saving" program to promote Internet accessibility.

10. Telecommunication and Internet enterprises have the responsibility to rapidly develop network infrastructure and services to accelerate the development and promotion of Internet services according to the general direction approved in this Plan.

This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial people's committees under central cities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.