Announcing 10 typical information technology events in 2023

The 10 typical ICT events in 2023 were nominated and selected by more than 50 ICT journalists from 43 leading press agencies in Vietnam. Below are the 10 typical ICT events in 2023:

1 - The National Assembly passed the Law on Telecommunications (amended)

On November 24, 2023, the National Assembly officially passed the Law on Telecommunications (amended). This is an important law with the most profound impact on the ICT industry. The Law on Telecommunications will, in a broader view, create the foundation for digital transformation, towards a digital society and digital citizens.

The Law on Telecommunications (amended) expands the subjects and scope of regulation of a number of new services such as cloud computing, data center services, basic telecommunications services on the Internet and is managed in the direction of "light management", open, flexible, aiming to protect users' rights, ensure safety and security. The Law also specifically stipulates the types of telecommunications resources granted through auction.

2 – Standardize information for millions of subscribers

To deal with the problem of spam calls, spam messages, scam calls... from March 31, 2023, network operators will start one-way blocking of subscribers whose information does not match the information checked with the national population database.

Then, lock the 2-way information with these subscribers and after 2 months, the contract will be terminated if the subscriber does not register to standardize personal information. In this standardization, millions of subscribers have registered to standardize personal information.

3 - National Assembly passes Law on Electronic Transactions

The Law on Electronic Transactions was passed by the 15th National Assembly on June 22, 2023. Compared to the 2005 Law on Electronic Transactions, the new Law expands the scope of application of electronic transactions to all activities of social life; creates a unified legal framework on electronic transaction activities in all fields to convert transactions from the real environment to the digital environment, promoting national digital transformation.

4 - Many semiconductor corporations open factories in Vietnam

In 2023, Vietnam's semiconductor sector is emerging as a destination for many semiconductor manufacturers, attracting the attention and presence of leading corporations in the world from the US, Korea, China, etc. with projects ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of USD in investment.

Besides foreign projects, Vietnam also has a number of technology units and enterprises that have researched, designed, and manufactured chips such as FPT Semiconductor, Viettel, etc. This will be the path for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the global semiconductor chip industry.

5 - Cyber ​​fraud outbreak

2023 is considered to be the year of the explosion of cyber fraud. Fraudsters often target the elderly and women. The Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05) said that high-tech crime continues to increase and become more complex, with new emerging methods such as fraud using Deepfake technology, organizing gambling and gambling with large amounts of money, buying and selling bank account information for illegal purposes, using devices similar to BTS stations of network operators or using software to spread messages with fraudulent content; illegal credit activities, quick loans on mobile platforms and online; activities of stealing and buying and selling personal data...

6 - First time checking social network TikTok in Vietnam

In early October 2023, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) announced the results of a comprehensive inspection of TikTok's operations in Vietnam. Accordingly, an interdisciplinary inspection team chaired by the Ministry of Information and Communications conducted a comprehensive inspection of TikTok's operations in Vietnam from mid-May to the end of September 2023. The inspection conclusion required TikTok to implement 9 contents to correct violations such as removing 100% of content that violates Vietnamese law.

7 - Prime Minister signs and promulgates the Digital Transformation Strategy for Journalism

On April 6, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg approving the Strategy "Digital transformation of journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030". The strategy sets the target that by 2030: 100% of press agencies will put content on digital platforms; 90% of press agencies will use centralized data analysis and processing platforms, applying artificial intelligence to optimize operations; 100% of press agencies will operate a converged newsroom model and models suitable for the development of advanced science and technology in the world, producing content according to digital journalism trends.

8- FPT reaches 1 billion USD in software export revenue

In December 2023, FPT reached the milestone of 1 billion USD in software export revenue, mainly from three key markets: Japan, America and Asia - Pacific. This result makes FPT the first technology enterprise in Vietnam to achieve a billion USD in revenue from software export, marking the Vietnamese intellectual mark globally and contributing to the overall development of the economy.

9 - Remove the proposal for special consumption tax on online games

On July 24, 2023, the Government Office announced the conclusion of the Government Standing Committee that online game business has not been subject to special consumption tax. Previously, the Ministry of Finance proposed to include online games in the special consumption tax category to limit the production and consumption of goods that are harmful to health and society.

However, after this proposal was made, it received strong reactions from experts, businesses and related ministries and branches. If special consumption tax is applied to online games, it will cause domestic enterprises to tend to shift to establish businesses abroad.

10 - Inauguration of Vietnam's largest data center in Hoa Lac

On October 25, VNPT opened the Data Center (IDC) at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. VNPT IDC Hoa Lac has a total usable area of ​​up to 23,000 m2, with a scale of up to 2,000 racks - the largest in Vietnam today.

On this occasion, the Vietnam ICT Press Club celebrated its 20th anniversary. The club is under the Vietnam Journalists Association. When it was first established, the club had 20 central and local press agencies including journalists specializing in the field of ICT. The club is a place where reporters can meet and exchange knowledge in the fields of journalism and information technology, enhance the dissemination of information technology knowledge, aiming to improve information efficiency, thereby contributing to the development of the Vietnamese information technology industry. To date, the Vietnam ICT Press Club has nearly 50 members from 40 press agencies in Vietnam.

Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, commented: The Vietnam Information Technology Journalists Club has been operating with a persistent and standardized journey and has achieved certain results. Currently, ICT is not only a document for the press to work but has become an important factor supporting the development of the press. Using technology to capture users, understand user needs, and at the same time push content to users, the role of technology is increasingly important. Without technology accompanying content, plus a unique style, modern journalism will be extremely difficult. There are many opportunities for journalism, but even more difficulties. In the current information pool of millions of information channels, if not drastic, the official press information channels will be easily overshadowed by unofficial information channels and thus our media power will be significantly lost. In the coming time, the Vietnam Journalists Association will work with the Google platform on cooperation related to copyright issues, creating revenue for the press, and training.

Particularly from the perspective of ICT journalists, according to comrade Le Quoc Minh, we will not simply be reporters of ICT anymore, but with our experience and understanding, we need to look at the bigger picture of technology with the country to give suggestions and recommendations to relevant management units as well as the Vietnam Journalists Association.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Phu, Chairman of Vietnam ICT Press Club said: “Over the past 20 years, the Vietnam ICT Press Club has accompanied the Government, ministries, businesses and people in propagating, disseminating, criticizing, and contributing ideas to build policies of the Party and the State; reflecting activities and solutions for businesses in the industry... through seminars, discussions and other exciting and diverse activities”.