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Vietnam’s government has approved a new phase of the universal telecommunications service program, including measures to expand Internet access nationwide and provide smartphones to poor and near-poor households. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed Decision No. 777/QD-TTg on April 30, 2026, setting out the program’s implementation period through 2030.
The program is designed to improve citizens’ access to telecommunications services and digital devices, supporting economic development, digital transformation, and national defense and security. A central objective is to extend telecom coverage to areas with insufficient infrastructure.
Under the plan, 100% of villages in especially difficult communes in ethnic minority and mountainous regions, as well as offshore and island areas and offshore oil rigs, will receive mobile and fixed broadband Internet services.
The program also targets 100% of poor and near-poor households that need Internet access, enabling connectivity via fixed or mobile networks.
Special facilities will be included in the connectivity rollout, including preschools, primary and secondary schools, commune health stations, and technology access points for ethnic minority communities.
For areas where telecom infrastructure is not available, the program will support the use of low-earth-orbit satellite services for community points.
In addition, 100% of fishermen who need it will receive maritime mobile communications to ensure contact while at sea.
On the device side, the program aims to equip 400,000 poor households with smartphones.
The policy does not apply to households that have previously received devices under the “Sóng và máy tính cho em” program or from other state budgets since January 1, 2021.
Implementation will involve state funding for investment and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas. The program also includes upgrading infrastructure to meet new technology requirements and to ensure communications in emergencies.
Priority regions remain remote and mountainous areas, ethnic minority regions, coastal and island areas, and other hard-to-reach locations.
The program runs from April 30, 2026 to December 31, 2030.
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