What are beneficiaries of universal telecommunications services in Vietnam?

What are beneficiaries of universal telecommunications services in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 20 of the Circular 14/2022/TT-BTTTT (effective from 12/12/2022) stipulating beneficiaries of universal telecommunications services in Vietnam as follows:

1. The beneficiaries are poor or near-poor households, families that are beneficiaries of policies on benefits for persons with meritorious services and families that are beneficiaries of social policies. Where:

a) The priority is given to poor or near-poor households;

b) Throughout the process of implementation of the Program, the Ministry of Information and Communications considers expansion in beneficiaries of universal telecommunications services according to resources of the Program and the demands of the remaining entities.

2. The beneficiaries specified in Clause 1 of this Article will receive assistance with universal telecommunications services from the Program, as follows:

a) The households residing in communes with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, island communes, island districts and eligible areas will receive assistance from the Program via 01 enterprise that provides public telecommunications services to use one of 02 following universal telecommunications services:

- a) Terrestrial mobile telecommunications services (prepaid or postpaid).

- Fixed terrestrial broadband Internet access service

b) The households without residing in areas specified in Point a of this Clause will receive assistance from the Program with terrestrial mobile telecommunications services (prepaid or postpaid)

What are regulations on subsidies, time and period of assistance with universal telecommunications services in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 21 of the Circular 14/2022/TT-BTTTT (effective from 12/12/2022) stipulating subsidies, time and period of assistance with universal telecommunications services in Vietnam as follows:

1. The subsidy for use of universal telecommunications service is the amount that is funded by the Program every month for provision of the service for the beneficiary specified in Clause 1 Article 20 of this Circular via the telecommunications enterprise. The specific subsidy is issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications according to:

a) Demand for use of universal telecommunications services

b) Prices of universal telecommunications services:

c) Capacity for assistance of the Program;

d) Priority given to poor or near-poor households that receive free computers under the Program “Waves and computers for children”, poor or near-poor households who are borrowers of the Bank for Social Policies for purchase of computers for online learning (according to Decision No. 09/2022/QD-TTg dated April 04, 2022 of the Prime Minister on credit for students with difficult family circumstances) for use of fixed terrestrial broadband Internet access service for online learning.

2. If the first month in which the development of new subscribers is not a full month, the subsidies for the households shall be applied, as follows:

a) Use of universal telecommunications services from the first day of the month to the 15th of the month: 100% of subsidies/month;

b) Use of universal telecommunications services from the 16th to the last day of the month: 50% of subsidies/month;

3. Time for assistance shall comply with regulations of Clause 2 Article 24 of this Circular.”;

4. Period of assistance: From the time for assistance to the time in which the households are no longer beneficiaries or no longer have demands for receipt of assistance with universal telecommunications services.

What are methods of assistance in using universal telecommunications services in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 22 of the Circular 14/2022/TT-BTTTT (effective from 12/12/2022) stipulating methods of assistance in using universal telecommunications services in Vietnam as follows:

1. Commissioning enterprises to provide public telecommunications services to provide services.

2. If the enterprises propose the plan for commissioning in excess of the quantity of beneficiaries, the Ministry of Information and Communications considers and decides the plan for commissioning enterprises on the basis of assurance about the correct principles and beneficiaries according to regulations.

3. The enterprises will only assist the households in using universal telecommunications services according to regulations of this Circular after signing contracts for provision of services with Vietnam Public Utility Telecommunications Service Fund.

Best regards!