[IT news] Netnam, FPT to create linked nets

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

Netnam, FPT to create linked nets

Minister appointed leader of national Internet coordination board

Two of Vietnam's major computer networks, Vietnam Wisdom
and Netnam will sign a cooperation deal this month, a Netnam
official said.

Tran Ba Thai, Netnam's administrator said the two networks have
reached a preliminary agreement to offer combined services for their
users. "In the first stage we will provide internet E-mail services
for our subscribers and later on other services that are now
available on each network separately," Thai said.

Netnam and Varenet were established by the Institute of Information
Technology while Vietnam Wisdom is operated by the Corporation for
Financing and Promoting Technology - FPT. They have a combined
subscriber-base of 6,400 users.

As all local networks are not linked to the Internet, users of one
network cannot exchange direct E-mail messages with others in
another network. If one user of Netnam wants to send a message to
another Vietnet user, for instance, the message will first be routed
to a server in Australia, then back to Vietnet. 

The agreement between Netnam and FPT will pave the way for other
similar deals among other local networks. So far Vietnam has around
ten local networks.

* Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet last Thursday appointed Minister of
Science, Technology and Environment Pham Gia Khiem chief of the
national Internet coordination board.

Mr. Mai Liem Truc, head of the General Department of Post, was
chosen to be vice chief of the board. There are six other members
who are ministers and deputy ministers of Education, Interior
Affairs, Culture and Information and others.

This is a decision aiming to manage and use the Internet efficiently
in terms of politics, economic issues, society and national
security. On March 5, the Government gave a go-ahead to the
establishment of a gateway link with the Internet.

* It is necessary for the country to upload its data and information
onto the Internet, an official with the Ministry of Culture and
Information told the local press.

Mr. Luu Van Han, head of the Press Department of the ministry, said
if Vietnam does this, unwanted programs on the Internet can be
restricted.

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