The ICT Press Club announced the top 10 information, communications and technology (ICT) events in 2019 on Thursday.
1. Politburo issues resolution on fourth industrial revolution
The Politburo issued a resolution with guidelines and policies to ensure active participation in Industry 4.0 on September 27.
Some goals set by 2025 are to maintain the ranking of global innovation index (GII) of the top three among ASEAN countries; to build digital infrastructure to the advanced level of ASEAN and to provide 100 per cent of communes with broadband internet.
Other goals include the digital economy accounting for 20 per cent of GDP, labour productivity increasing 7 per cent on average per year and basically completing digital transformation in Party and State agencies and other socio-political organisations.
2. MobiFone-AVG trial opens
The Ha Noi People's Court opened a trial on December 14 for the 14 defendants related to telecoms group MobiFone buying 95 per cent of Audio Visual Global (AVG) for an inflated price.
The Ministry of Information and Communications is the representing agency and owner of State capital at MobiFone, responsible for directing MobiFone in project implementation, approving investment project upon investment decision of the Prime Minister.
The defendants are accused of violations in proposing investment projects and evaluating financial and business of AVG, causing a serious damage to properties of the State worth more than VND6.5 trillion (nearly US$281 million).
3. Viet Nam declares its 'Make in Viet Nam' strategy
Electronic parts are produced at the Vietnamese firm 4P Co Ltd in Hung Yen Province's Van Giang District.— VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien
Viet Nam announced the 'Make in Viet Nam' strategy and organised a national-scale workshop to implement this strategy this year.
Before the strategy was launched, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on the Vietnamese business community to promote patriotism and help build a strong and prosperous Viet Nam.
4. Viet Nam tests 5G network
A Viettel engineer installs infrastructure for its 5G pilot run in HCM City. — Photo vietteltelecom.vn
Viettel made the first official connection to a 5G mobile network in Viet Nam on May 10.
Immediately after Viettel, other Vietnamese network operators also announced successful 5G testing and that they would be ready to commercialise next year.
5G testing event this year is a statement of Viet Nam's ICT industry that it will not continue to be left behind, but will keep pace with countries like the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
5. Ministry of Information and Communications tightens management over Google and Facebook
In 2019, the Ministry of Information and Communications had many working sessions to reorganise advertising on cross-border platforms like Google and Facebook.
The ministry said it would use legal, economic and technical measures to require cross-border platforms such as Facebook and Google to comply with Vietnamese laws.
6. Operating the National Public Service Portal
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc checks the National Public Service Portal at the operation centre. — VNA/VNS Photo Van Diep
The National Public Service Portal was launched on December 9, marking an important milestone in Viet Nam's administrative reform.
By 2020, the portal is hoped to include at least 30 per cent of essential online public services.
In the following years, it will integrate 20 per cent of online public services at levels 3 and 4 of ministries, branches and localities each year.
7. Government agrees to pilot mobile money
The Ministry of Information and Communications proposed allowing mobile network providers to provide mobile money services early this year and the Government agreed to run a pilot project to provide this service.
After the Prime Minister's approval, the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV), together with the Ministry of Information and Communications, instructed telecommunications enterprises to submit dossiers to the SBV for pilot licensing of service provision for customers.
8. Vietnamese social networks launch
The social network Lotus was launched on September 16. Lotus was one of three Vietnamese social networks that debuted in 2019. — Photo 24h.com.vn
This year marked the launch of many made-in-Viet Nam social networks.
Gapo was launched on July 23 and VCCorp launched its social network Lotus on September 16.
9. Phase two of trillion-dong online gambling trial
Phu Tho Province’s People's Court on November 25 opened the trial of Dang Anh Tuan, former chief inspector of the Ministry of Information and Communications, on charges of abusing his position and power.
According to the indictment, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Information and Communications discovered 14 online games that were operating with gambling signs in October 2016, so the ministry set up an inspection team with five members.
Tuan is accused of directing the report maker to shut down the inspection team.
Former Director General of the Police General Department Phan Van Vinh and former Director of the High-tech Crime Police Department Nguyen Thanh Hoa are also among the 92 defendants involved.
10. Government operates E-Cabinet system
The E-Cabinet system came into operation on June 24.
With the system, the Government Office can simply and quickly gather opinions of Government members.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the E-Cabinet system was a step in the process of applying information technology in work. — VNS