Measuring the Information Society 2011 Box 2.9: Government support for ICTs pays off in Viet Nam Viet Nam moved up ten places to 81st position with an IDI increase from 2.76 in 2008 to 3.53 in 2010. This 28 per cent improvement in IDI value is mainly due to an increase in the IDI use sub-index, with 13 mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, up from no subscriptions in 2008 (Chart Box 2.9). Viet Nam jumped 16 places in the access sub-index ratings in relation to 2008, with significant gains in mobile penetration and international Internet bandwidth per user. The official launch of 3G services at the end of 2009 has contributed to more than doubling mobile subscriptions in the last two years, from 87 to 175 per 100 inhabitants. According to telecom operator Vina-phone, have all contributed to the country’s mobile-broadband success. International Internet bandwidth rates rose from 50 064 Mbit/s to 134 420 Mbit/s. Viet Nam is now connected with three interna-tional gateways. The third Asia-America Gateway (AAG) opened in November 2009, connecting southern Asia to America by way of an undersea cable system network with an international transmission capacity of 500 Gbit/s.44 Government support has boosted the country’s positive ICT direction and status. The National Assembly issued a Law on Telecommunications and a Law on Wireless Radio Frequency, which took effect in July 2010. The two laws aim to encourage all economic and private sectors to develop their telecommu-nication the high-speed 3G availability of services such as mobile Internet games, multimedia, mobile-TV and online newspapers together with product introductions of iPhone and HTC products services, investments and infrastructure.45 Chart Box 2.9: Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 2008-2010 14 Viet Nam Cambodia 12 Developing countries average 10 Thailand 8 % 6 4 2 0 2008 2009 2010 Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database. +( ( $ $ # ( ( ( ( # ( $ 1 \"( $ %+) , ( $ # ( (($ ,\"\" \" ( ( $ % \" $ $ ( ) * , ( $ $ # ( ( ( ( % + ( # + , + % % % , %+ ( # , ( # ( \" ( ) * ( ,* ( \"\" ( # % () C , ( % # ( ( ( ( ( % % 1 ,%+ ( 07$ # ( ( ( ) \" ( ( # ( \" ( +L \"+ # + 33