Illustrative image (Source: ictvietnam.vn) The number of Internetsubscriptions in Vietnam hit a record last year, nearly 71 million mobilebroadband subscriptions and 18.8 million fixed ones, respectively rising 4percent and 14.6 percent from 2020.
Meanwhile, Internet usersreached 71 million for the first time, accounting for two-thirds of thepopulation. Internet traffic also grew strongly, by over 40 percent, in 2021.
Telecoms businesses steppedup developing broadband infrastructure last year. So far, the 5G network hasbeen piloted in 16 provinces and cities, 4G covered 99.8 percent of thepopulation, and the cable internet service reached 100 percent ofcommunal-level localities, reported the Authority of Telecommunications underthe Ministry of Information and Communications.
However, repeated breakdownsof undersea international cables also greatly affected the domestic internetquality.
There are five undersea cableroutes currently operating in Vietnam, namely AAG, SMW3, IA, APG, and AAE-1.Two others, SJC 2 and ADC, are schedule to be put into use in 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, other countries inthe region have more routes such as Singapore 30, Malaysia 22, and Thailand 10.Compared to them, international infrastructure serving internet connection inVietnam remains modest, Dau tu reported.
Hoang Duc Dung from theGlobal Operation Centre at Viettel Network Corporation, an affiliate of theViettel Group, said it is necessary to develop infrastructure for internationalinternet connection on par with regional countries.
Deputy Director of theTelecommunications Authority Nguyen Phong Nha held that to improve broadbandinternet quality, focus should be paid to upgrading bandwidth and modemdevices’ capacity, widening domestic and international bandwidth, and amendingstandards. Aside from investing in internet infrastructure, telecoms servicessuppliers should also prepare backup plans.
Dau tu cited Minister ofInformation and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung as saying that infrastructuremust be developed first and fast, and the technologies applied must be modernones.
Developing digitalinfrastructure, including internet, telecoms and cloud computinginfrastructure, is set to be the focus between now and 2025. This will alsocreate a big opportunity for service providers, infrastructure developers, andoperators to compete equally with transnational enterprises in Vietnam,according to the newspaper./.
VNA
