The information and communications sector enjoyed a dramatic growth rate in 2009 despite the impact of the global economic meltdown, confirmed Deputy Minister Tran Duc Lai yesterday, December 30. Here are the sector’s 10 major events:
1.The laws on Telecommunications and Radio Frequencies ...

The information and communications sector enjoyed a dramatic growth rate in 2009 despite the impact of the global economic meltdown, confirmed Deputy Minister Tran Duc Lai yesterday, December 30. Here are the sector’s 10 major events:

1.The laws on Telecommunications and Radio Frequencies were passed by the National Assembly and will come into force on July 1. They were designed to encourage different sectors to invest in telecommunications infrastructure projects and services, promote the use of advanced technologies and the efficient use of resources.

2. Ha Noi successfully hosted the World Information Technology Forum-2009 entitled "IT for sustainable development" from August 26-28, drawing over 1,500 Governmental officials and industry representatives from 70 countries and territories.

3. A 7th grade student from Da Nang, Nguyen Dac Xuan Thao, won second prize at the 38th international letter-writing competition this year, focusing on AIDS-awareness, launched by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). It was the highest prize ever awarded to a Vietnamese student during the 20 years the country has entered the competition.

4. 3G mobile technology was introduced in Viet Nam, launching a revolution in one of the world’s most dynamic growing IT markets.

5. The country took part in laying three major international sub-sea fibre-optic cables, namely the Asia-America Gateway, the Trans-Asia Marine Cable System and the Asia-Pacific Gateway. As a result, the country has managed to make mobile information services available at sea and to its outer lying islands.

6. The Government announced its plans to introduce digital radio and television broadcasting technology. In the first phase, HDTV (high definition TV) and IPTV (Internet protocol TV) were introduced.

7. The information technology and communication sector successfully held its first national awards, presenting 21 prizes to mobile information and internet services providers, the IT industry, IT human resource and IT applications.

8. A book on the Thang Long-Ha Noi Millennium was published and Vietnamese heroine Dang Thuy Tram’s diary was translated into Spanish and Laos languages for the first time.

9. Digital signatures were deployed in Viet Nam, helping with administrative reforms and speeding up e-commerce and e-Government.

10. The first national contest on designs and layouts and an exhibition of the best newspapers and magazines were held, drawing almost 1,000 entries and awarding 24 prizes.