The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has told Internet Service Provider (ISP) to interrupt Internet connection to Internet cafes from 11pm to 6am as of September 1, 2010. Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has told Internet Service Provider (ISP) to interrupt Internet connection to Internet cafes from 11pm to 6am as of September 1, 2010.

At a meeting between MoIC, online game distributors and ISP on August 6, MoIC introduced five groups of solutions to deal with matters in controlling online games. The most notable measures include: halting Internet service at Internet cafes, end licensing new games from now to the year’s end and banning advertisements of online games.

Deputy Minister Do Quy Doan noted that these measures are “tough” and online game distributors and Internet cafes that violate regulations will be severely punished.

Luu Vu Hai from MoIC’s Radio Television Broadcast and Electronic Information Agency remarked: “We surveyed some Internet cafes and found out that these places were virtually unmanaged. They lent a hand to illegal games, which account for 30 percent of total games.”

VinaGame director Le Hong Minh noted: “We also want ISP to apply the measure of halting Internet connections to Internet cafes because these are places where many social problems occur. We also expect MoIC and the Radio Television Broadcast and Electronic Information Agency to take measures to control illegal online games.”

ISP supported MoIC’s instructions. Ho Phuoc Thuan, director of the Vietnam Data Communication Company (VDC) in the south, stated: “Cutting the Internet connection to Internet cafes is a difficult measure for our business. We need assistance from area government officials.”

Another ISP, FPT Telecom, suggested installing Internet management software at all Internet cafes.

Nguyen Hong Hai, chief of the MoIC’s Telecommunications Department, believed that if Internet cafes are well-controlled, problems associated with online games will drop.

PV