Supporting businesses to quickly deploy 5G network infrastructure nationwide
On February 19, the National Assembly voted to pass the Resolution of the National Assembly to pilot a number of mechanisms and policies to remove obstacles in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation activities.
In particular, Article 11 of the Resolution stipulates financial support for businesses to quickly deploy 5G.
Accordingly, the state budget to support businesses to quickly deploy national 5G network infrastructure is regulated as follows:
1. Telecommunications enterprises that quickly deploy 5G network infrastructure must have at least 20,000 5G broadcasting stations accepted and put into use from the effective date of this Resolution until December 31, 2025.
2. The total amount of support for telecommunications enterprises specified in Clause 1 of this Article does not exceed the total auctioned amount of auctions for the right to use radio frequencies conducted in 2024.
3. The support level for a 5G broadcasting station is 15% of the average equipment cost for a 5G broadcasting station purchased in 2025 by supported telecommunications enterprises.
Article 12 of the Resolution stipulates the policy for developing international telecommunication cables at sea with the participation of Vietnamese telecommunications enterprises or investors as follows:
Investment projects for international maritime telecommunications cables with landing stations in Vietnam are subject to the prescribed procedures for investment projects in Vietnam according to the provisions of the law on investment and must meet the requirements of ensuring national defense and security.
Allowing the approval of investment policies to decide on the use of the form of bidding to implement packages of investment projects specified in Clause 1 of this Article to be implemented in the period of 2025-2030 to promptly meet the requirements of telecommunications infrastructure development of enterprises.
In case the form of bidding is not used, the selection of contractors to implement the investment project is carried out according to international practice agreed upon by the parties or signed between Vietnamese telecommunications enterprises and foreign organizations that are members contributing capital to invest in the construction of international marine fiber optic cables.
Income from performing scientific and technological tasks is not subject to personal income tax
Article 6 of the Resolution regulating spending contracts in implementing scientific research and technology development
Accordingly, scientific and technological tasks are carried out by contracting to final products when the organization in charge of the implementation of scientific and technological tasks has a commitment to the products of the tasks with the main quality indicators to be achieved.
The organization in charge is responsible for organizing the exploitation of assets formed from scientific and technological tasks using the state budget, continuing to invest to ensure efficiency in commercialization.
According to the resolution, business sponsorships for scientific research, technology development and innovation, and expenditures for scientific research, technology development and innovation in enterprises are included in the expenditures deducted from the determination of income subject to corporate income tax.
Income from salaries and wages from performing scientific and technological tasks using the State budget is income not subject to personal income tax.
National Assembly deputies highly appreciated the spending contract mechanism in the Resolution. He said that this helps reduce the administrative burden on scientists. Because currently, many researchers have to spend too much time on paperwork instead of focusing on research. Spending contracts are a big step forward to solve this problem.
