Decision 216/QD-TTg 2025 approving the program to encourage private sector participation in telecommunications and digital transformation infrastructure through 2030

DECISION

Approving the Program on encouraging enterprises in the private sector to participate in the construction of telecommunications infrastructure and other infrastructure serving national digital transformation through 2030^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the November 24, 2023 Law on Telecommunications;

Pursuant to the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of September 27, 2019, on a number of guidelines and policies to proactively engage in the Fourth Industrial Revolution;

Pursuant to the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation;

Pursuant to the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of May 4, 2025, on private economy development;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP of April 17, 2020, promulgating the Government’s Action Program to implement the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of September 27, 2019, on a number of guidelines and policies to proactively engage in the Fourth Industrial Revolution;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 71/NQ-CP of April 1, 2025, amending, supplementing and updating the Government’s Action Program to implement the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation;

At the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Program on encouraging enterprises in the private sector to participate in the construction of telecommunications infrastructure and other infrastructure serving national digital transformation through 2030 (below referred to as the Program) with the following contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

a/ To attract enterprises in the private sector to participate in the investment for construction of telecommunications infrastructure and other infrastructure serving national digital transformation (below referred to as digital infrastructure), focusing on new types of digital infrastructure with significant development space such as data centers, cloud computing, physical-digital infrastructure, digital utility infrastructure, and digital technologies such as high-quality broadband connectivity services and infrastructure, in order to maximize the potential and strengths of the private sector and effectively mobilize and use all social resources for digital infrastructure development.

b/ To remove institutional and policy barriers to create an equal, transparent and healthy competitive business environment for digital infrastructure development; to intensify the assurance of information security, cybersecurity and data security to serve the development of the digital economy, digital society and digital government.

c/ To encourage sole proprietorships to take the lead in application of advanced technologies, innovation, internal digital transformation, and development of modern, smart, green and sustainable digital infrastructure, meeting international standards and aligning with development trends and international integration requirements.

2. Specific objectives

By 2030, to basically achieve the following objectives:

a/ Enterprises in the private sector invest in and own at least 4 more international submarine fiber-optic cable routes.

b/ The annual average revenue growth rate of enterprises in the private sector providing terrestrial mobile telecommunications services not using radio frequency bands reaches approximately 12-15%, contributing to diversifying the mobile telecommunications service market and providing new services.

c/ The annual average revenue growth rate of enterprises in the private sector providing fixed broadband telecommunications services reaches approximately 10-12%.

d/ Enterprises in the private sector invest in construction of new, modern and large-scale data centers up to international standards and green standards, with a total designed capacity accounting for at least 50% of the total capacity of data centers providing public services nationwide.

dd/ There will be at least 2 leading global technology enterprises investing in the construction and operation of big data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in Vietnam.

e/ Enterprises in the private sector participate deeply and extensively in the investment and development of physical-digital infrastructure in the fields of smart cities, smart transport, smart seaports, smart factories, smart agriculture, etc., with pilot models and real-world implementation in localities.

g/ There will be at least 2 outstanding enterprises in the private sector on par with those in advanced countries in the field of digital infrastructure construction and operation, capable of participating in the global value chain and leading the domestic digital ecosystem.

II. TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Creating favorable conditions for sole proprietorships to implement projects on digital infrastructure investment and construction

a/ To formulate and approve master plans and plans on development of passive telecommunications infrastructure in localities in accordance with the law on planning and the law on telecommunications.

b/ To strengthen interdisciplinary coordination to handle acts of illegally obstructing the lawful establishment of telecommunications infrastructure.

c/ To issue specific instructions and organize the shared use of interdisciplinary technical infrastructure (transport, energy, public lighting, water supply and drainage, telecommunications, and other technical infrastructure facilities) in localities.

d/ To review and allocate suitable land areas within local land-use master plans and plans for data center projects, prioritizing the arrangement of such projects in hi-tech parks, digital technology parks, and areas with favorable technical infrastructure conditions, in conformity with information and communications infrastructure master plans and provincial master plans.

dd/ To effectively implement the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and apply end-to-end online public services related to the procedures for investment in, and commercial operation and construction of, digital infrastructure in accordance with the Government’s Resolution No. 66/NQ-CP of March 26, 2025, approving the Program on the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures related to production and business activities in 2025 and 2026.

e/ To closely coordinate with enterprises in the private sector participating in digital infrastructure construction in monitoring and promptly addressing emerging security risks, and simultaneously sharing information on cybersecurity threats.

2. Completing a favorable and transparent legal framework to promote investment in digital infrastructure development

a/ To continue improving the system of legal documents detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on Telecommunications in a synchronous and uniform manner, to create an equal and transparent competitive environment and simplify administrative procedures.

b/ To review, supplement and improve legal documents to further institutionalize the management and development of digital infrastructure in a complete manner.

c/ To review, amend and supplement legal documents on high technologies in order to adjust incentive and support policies in an appropriate and practical manner for enterprises developing digital infrastructure products and services on the list of high technologies; to research and adopt priority policies for enterprises developing “Make in Vietnam” products, and expand the scope of incentive beneficiaries to technology startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises.

d/ To research, and evaluate the results of, the provision under the regulatory sandbox mechanism of telecommunications services using the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology without limiting foreign investors’ share ownership, capital contribution or investment contribution; on that basis, to propose the improvement of the law on management of business investment in telecommunications services using the LEO satellite technology.

dd/ To review and supplement incentive and support policies for enterprises investing in the construction, expansion and upgrading of telecommunications infrastructure and data centers using energy-efficient technologies and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

e/ To promulgate national standards and technical regulations on digital infrastructure components, focusing on standards and technical regulations on service quality and application of green and environmentally friendly technologies.

g/ To formulate mandatory cybersecurity standards, including regulations on minimum security standards, and the procedures for examination and supervision of, and risk assessment in, digital infrastructure construction projects.

3. Mobilizing and creating resources to encourage enterprises in the private sector to participate in digital infrastructure construction

a/ To effectively implement public-private partnership policies in investment in development of digital infrastructure, prioritizing projects on smart cities, data storage and processing infrastructure, and other digital infrastructure projects serving the development of the digital economy, digital society and digital government.

b/ To implement in a synchronous and effective manner investment incentive and support policies in accordance with the laws on investment, digital technology industry, and high technologies for investment projects on construction of big data center infrastructure, cloud computing infrastructure, mobile infrastructure from the fifth generation (5G) and higher, and other digital infrastructure.

c/ To effectively implement the direct power purchase mechanism between renewable energy power generation units and large electricity consumers to create favorable conditions for enterprises building and operating data centers to access renewable energy sources; to provide guidance, monitor and promptly handle issues arising during the implementation of this mechanism.

4. Developing synchronous technical infrastructure, strengthening connectivity among enterprises in the private sector, and between enterprises in the private sector and state enterprises in digital infrastructure development

a/ To expand 5G mobile network coverage in key areas such as industrial parks, cottage industry zones, hi-tech parks, large urban centers, and areas with potential for digital economy development; to expeditiously implement the expansion nationwide, ensuring high-speed, low-latency and highly reliable connectivity and facilitating physical-digital infrastructure development.

b/ To develop new international terrestrial and submarine fiber-optic cables to enhance international connectivity, ensuring redundancy, security and diverse route directions, striving to place Vietnam among the leading countries in the region in terms of the number, capacity and quality of international connections, creating a competitive advantage in attracting foreign investment to develop big data centers, AI data centers, and cloud computing.

c/ To increase the number of, and rationally distribute, connection points of the Vietnam National Internet Exchange (VNIX), prioritizing their placement in big data centers to reduce connection costs and improve service quality for enterprises in the private sector.

d/ To develop large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure based on 4G and 5G mobile platforms in industrial parks, cottage industry zones, hi-tech parks, and smart cities, ensuring the readiness and synchronism of infrastructure to meet the requirements of connecting the large number of IoT devices, thereby attracting enterprises in the private sector to invest in and develop IoT platforms, solutions and applications to serve digital transformation.

dd/ Telecommunications enterprises shall develop specialized data packages, provide application programming interfaces (API), and necessary technical support tools to create favorable conditions for enterprises in the private sector to effectively manage mobile IoT connections.

e/ To review, update and supplement the national power development plan, power supply network development plans, and local power development plans to ensure the provision of green, clean, and highly redundant power sources for data centers; to prioritize the provision of stable and high-quality power supply sources in areas planned for data center development.

g/ To encourage big digital-technology enterprises with technological and financial potential to play a leading role and cooperate with small- and medium-sized enterprises in developing core components of digital infrastructure such as cloud computing, physical-digital infrastructure, etc.

5. Creating an equal and transparent investment and business environment, promoting healthy competition

a/ To effectively implement legal provisions on wholesale management in the telecommunications sector to ensure healthy and transparent competition, creating conditions for enterprises to participate in the market. To strengthen the management of telecommunications enterprises with dominant market positions, promptly preventing acts of abusing dominant market positions, monopoly and unfair competition.

b/ To effective implement mechanisms and principles on price control, and pricing methods for leasing cable networks in buildings, and for leasing passive telecommunications technical infrastructure among telecommunications enterprises, and organizations and individuals owning telecommunications facilities to promote infrastructure sharing and reduce social costs.

c/ To strengthen the supervision of, and handle, monopoly and unfair competition, and settle disputes in telecommunications service provision to ensure an equal competitive environment.

d/ To establish a strict supervision and evaluation mechanism for digital infrastructure projects involving enterprises in the private sector, for systems with sensitive data.

dd/ To guide enterprises in the private sector participating in digital infrastructure construction in complying with strict security requirements, ensuring that important information does not fall into the hands of organizations or individuals with malicious intentions.

6. Building capacity and expanding international cooperation in digital infrastructure development

a/ To organize investment promotion programs to support enterprises in the private sector in understanding the policies on, and the current state, development trends and development investment potential of digital infrastructure; to organize dialogues to remove difficulties and obstacles for enterprises.

b/ To raise the awareness about, and provide training on, cybersecurity for enterprises in the private sector participating in digital infrastructure construction to facilitate their self-protection and reduction of internal risks. To encourage the application of new technologies (AI, blockchain, etc.) in supervising and safeguarding digital infrastructure security, detecting abnormal risks, and securing information transactions.

c/ To promote international cooperation in digital infrastructure development through the organization of events to attract investment and technology transfer, share experiences, and update new trends, while encouraging investment from partners with strengths in AI, cloud computing, and green data centers, in association with the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for “net-zero emissions”.

d/ To bring into play the role of societies and associations involved in digital infrastructure components in providing policy consultation to attract investment from enterprises in the private sector, and supporting enterprises in connecting supply and demand and improving the quality of digital infrastructure products and services.

III. FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM

1. Funds for implementation of the Program shall be covered by recurrent expenditures and development investment expenditures in accordance with the law on the state budget; capital of organizations and enterprises; donations from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals; and other lawful funding sources in accordance with law.

2. Based on tasks assigned under the Program, ministries, sectors, localities and organizations shall formulate funding estimates for submission to the Ministry of Finance for summarization and submission to competent authorities for approval in accordance with the law on the state budget and other relevant laws.

IV. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for organizing the implementation of the Program; and guide and urge ministries, sectors, provinces, cities and related enterprises in organizing the implementation of the Program.

b/ Perform tasks and implement solutions on improving the legal framework, developing synchronous technical infrastructure, promoting competition, creating an equal and transparent investment and business environment, and intensifying international cooperation on digital infrastructure as assigned under this Decision.

c/ Direct telecommunications enterprises and digital technology enterprises to perform tasks and implement solutions for developing technical infrastructure and connecting enterprises in the private sector with state enterprises in digital infrastructure development.

d/ Assume the prime responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the indicators specified in Clause 2, Section I of this Decision.

2. The Ministry of Public Security shall

a/ Perform tasks related to information security, cybersecurity and data security in digital infrastructure development; formulate and promulgate standards and regulations on cybersecurity; and establish a supervision and evaluation mechanism for digital infrastructure projects with sensitive data as assigned under this Decision.

b/ Guide enterprises in complying with information security requirements; raise the awareness about, and provide training on, cybersecurity for enterprises, and encourage the application of new technologies in security supervision and safeguarding in digital infrastructure.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall

a/ Review and supplement incentive and support policies for enterprises to implement digital infrastructure projects using energy-efficient technologies and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

b/ Provide guidance on implementing the direct power purchase mechanism for data centers using renewable energy; review, amend and supplement the national power devolopment plan to ensure a green, clean and stable power supply source for data center development.

4. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related agencies in, implementing the passive telecommunications infrastructure master plan; issue guidelines on the use of inter-sectoral technical infrastructure; review and allocate land areas for data center projects; reduce and simplify administrative procedures related to the investment and trading in, and construction of, digital infrastructure; and perform other tasks as assigned under this Decision.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall

a/ Within the ambit of their assigned functions, tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in performing the tasks assigned under this Decision.

b/ Submit reports on the situation and results of implementation of the Program to the Ministry of Science and Technology before December 10 every year for summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

6. The National Data Association; the National Cybersecurity Association; the Vietnam Internet Association; the Vietnam Software and Information Technology Services Association; the Vietnam Association for Information Processing; the Radio and Electronics Association of Vietnam; and the Vietnam Digital Communications Association shall

a/ Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in performing the tasks assigned under this Decision.

b/ Provide information on policies on investment promotion, incentives and support to attract foreign investment, support enterprises in connecting supply and demand, mobilize their members to research and provide high-quality digital infrastructure products and services; and organize workshops and conferences to provide policy consultation and build capacity of enterprises in the field of digital infrastructure.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and related organizations and enterprises shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
NGUYEN CHI DUNG