The IT industry’s revenue alone increased by 20 percent to US$3 billion, and its export turnover from electronic and telecom products reached US$2.4 billion, according to Information and Communications Minister Le Doan Hop.

Speaking at a round-up conference for the information and communication sector, Mr. Hop said this year the sector would focus on plans to bring internet services to schools and rural areas, open a news channel for foreigners and an online Q&A service on the ministry website.

By the end of 2008, the sector had registered 82.25 million telephone subscribers, or 97.5 telephones per 100 people. Of the total, 85.5 percent were mobile subscribers.

An additional 1.5 million internet subscribers registered for services in 2008, or a 28 percent year-on-year increase, bringing the total number of internet subscribers to 20.67 million and a density of 24.2 percent.