(photo for illustration only: baoninhthuan.com.vn)

Over 90,000 new .vn domains were activated in the first 11 months of this year, bringing the total number of national domain names to 263,900, according to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC).

The increase has helped the country to keep its number one position in Southeast Asia for national domain registration and activation.

Domains with Vietnamese names accounted for 127,166, said the centre, which is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The VNNIC said it earned a revenue of 143 billion VND (6.8 million USD) from domain activation and subscription fees in 2013, 15 percent above its annual target.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, internet service providers (ISPs) in Vietnam earned 15 trillion VND (more than 714 million USD) in revenue last year, with 5 trillion VND (238 million USD) coming from 3G network services.

Between 2009 and 2013, the number of internet users increased by 170 percent, and broadband availability climbed 7.5 times compared with 2005-09.

Vietnam's internet penetration is at 35.6 percent, while 40 percent of the country's online population are aged between 15 and 24.

The number of internet users is expected to reach 60 million by 2018, with total revenue from internet services and content hitting 100 trillion VND (4.7 billion USD).

Source: VNA