From: Michael Hoover <hoov-AT-freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Subject: M-I: Vietnam joins the Internet (fwd)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 97 23:52:15 18000


Forwarded message:
> Copyright © 1997 Agence France-Presse 
> 
> HANOI (November 19, 1997) - Vietnam joined the information super-highway
> on Wednesday with the long-awaited launch of its own Internet services,
> a telecommunications official said.
> 
> But its debut in cyberspace does not mean the citizens of this communist
> country will get unfettered access to outside information, as all
> Internet account holders must first apply for a license.
> 
> Furthermore, only one Internet access provider has been approved --
> Vietnam Datacommunication Company -- under the management of a state
> telecommunications watchdog, the Department General of Posts and
> Telecommunications.
> 
> Vietnam has delayed bringing the country on line while the government
> ensured its regulatory framework was in place.
> 
> According to the official Vietnam News daily, this included creating
> "security firewalls" to protect Internet users from receiving some
> undesirable services.
> 
> Vietnam has operated its own domestic version of the web for some
> months, and limited e-mail services abroad for more than two years.
> 
> According to officials from the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications
> (VNPT), on-line e-mail will be available within a couple of weeks.
> 
> Four firms have been approved to provide services. They are the Finance
> Promoting and Technology Company (FPT), Vietnam Data Transmission
> Company, Saigon Postel Corp, and the Information Technology Institute.
--



     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---