Telecommunications Coverage for Remote Areas Discussed in National Assembly

In a recent Q&A session, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung responded to inquiries about the need for improved telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in remote and underserved ethnic minority regions without mobile service.

Delegate Ho Thi Kim Ngan from Bac Kan raised concerns regarding the 761 villages still lacking mobile coverage as of September 2024, asking about the Minister’s plans to address this issue and when residents can expect better service.

Minister Hung clarified that many of these villages face challenges, including over 100 without electricity and others outside priority zones which are the telecom providers’ responsibility. However, there are areas eligible for support through the Universal Service Fund.

To tackle the lack of electricity, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) is collaborating with related ministries and the Electric Power Corporation to explore options, such as satellite services. They are also working on bringing low-orbit satellite communications to Vietnam to assist areas that traditional networks cannot efficiently reach.

For villages that fall under the service responsibilities of telecom operators, the MIC is pushing for faster coverage expansion, aiming to complete this by 2024, or at the latest, by the first quarter of 2025.

As for the areas covered by the Universal Service Fund, Minister Hung mentioned that these would be addressed once a new telecommunications law is enacted by the end of the year. He affirmed the commitment to cover all black spots by June 2025 but expressed a desire to finish the work earlier, by March 2025.

On a positive note, Minister Hung shared that 99.8% of Vietnam’s population currently enjoys 4G coverage, exceeding the average of 99.4% found in many developed nations.

In response to concerns from Delegate Chu Thi Hong Thai (Lang Son), he acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted existing coverage deficiencies, especially as reliance on digital services surged. During this period, the MIC facilitated expansion to 2,500 villages. Nonetheless, 761 additional coverage gaps have since been identified, pending new legislation. Minister Hung accepted responsibility for delays in legislation that should have been finalized by July 1, 2024.

Calls for Systematic Approach to Regulatory Delays

Delegate Dong Ngoc Ba from Binh Dinh emphasized the importance of a strategic, long-term approach to improving institutional capacity while new laws provide crucial frameworks for addressing various concerns.

Minister Hung responded by highlighting the utilization of digital tools to enhance regulatory processes. He showcased a virtual assistant, aiding Delegate Nhi Ha with answers, and mentioned MIC’s initiative in developing this AI tool to assist in drafting new regulations.

The virtual assistant aims to identify any legal overlaps or inconsistencies among laws and decrees, and it is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. The tool is already in use at MIC and partially at the Ministry of Justice.

Additionally, Minister Hung suggested that it may be more efficient to allow for targeted amendments to laws rather than waiting for extensive revisions that can take multiple National Assembly sessions to complete.

Thu Hang, Tran Thuong, Quang Phong