New regulations on telecommunications subsidies for poor households are coming soon.

According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son, new regulations on telecommunications fee subsidies for poor households and broadband infrastructure for specific target groups will be implemented in 2014.

Hoa Binh is one of the disadvantaged localities that urgently wants the Ministry of Information and Communications to soon provide a mechanism to support investment capital for the development of multi-service broadband telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring access to telecommunications services for all citizens through public telecommunications service points in remote, mountainous, and particularly difficult areas. At the same time, it requests support for telecommunications service fees for poor and near-poor households and families receiving social welfare benefits; and support for schools, hospitals, and local authorities to connect to telecommunications infrastructure and broadband internet to apply IT in education, healthcare, and providing public administrative services to the people.

Specific regulations will be put in place regarding subsidies for telecommunications fees for poor and near-poor families. (Illustrative image. Source: Internet.)

During a working session on the morning of June 9, 2014, between the Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyen Bac Son, and a delegation from Hoa Binh province, provincial leaders reported that according to the latest statistics, 100% of communes and wards in the province have mobile phone coverage, and 98% have BTS stations, totaling 978 stations. However, due to the complex terrain and difficulties in investing in telecommunications infrastructure, only 68 out of 210 communes currently have broadband telecommunications infrastructure connecting to the commune center. Many people have not yet accessed or benefited from high-tech services, especially those in the 49 particularly disadvantaged communes and the 23 communes in the Da River reservoir area.

Acknowledging the above proposal, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department, Ministry of Information and Communications, stated that the Department is coordinating with the Planning and Finance Department and the Public Telecommunications Service Fund to develop a draft Public Telecommunications Program until 2020. This draft includes specific regulations on funding sources, mechanisms for implementing broadband telecommunications infrastructure support for localities, and subsidies for near-poor and poor households. A document is expected to be sent to relevant localities in June 2014 for feedback.

Mr. Pham Van Dung, Director of the Public Telecommunications Fund, added: Regarding the program to support workplace connectivity, the Public Telecommunications Program will invest in equipment and infrastructure, and partially subsidize service fees for the following entities: district and commune People's Committees, colleges, vocational schools, and all provincial, district, and commune hospitals.

According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son, the Public Telecommunications Program until 2020 is expected to be approved and implemented this year with specific regulations on subsidizing telecommunications rates for poor households. Broadband infrastructure support will be implemented using a more constructive approach, rather than simply providing financial assistance, to help people develop their businesses and improve their lives, avoiding a repeat of previous situations where people received money and phones but used them for other purposes. Another noteworthy point in the implementation of the Public Telecommunications Program in the coming period is the proactive participation of local authorities. After an investment project is approved in a particular locality, that locality will be responsible for its financial settlement and payment, preventing situations where the central government invests but the locality is unaware.

According to Vietnam.net