Before 2003 the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications' Việt Nam Data Communication Company (VDC) was the sole Internet Exchange (Access) Provider (IXP); the recent granting of licences permitting the Corporation for Finance and Promoting Technology (FPT) and the military-run Viettel Company also to operate as IXPs promises to break that monopoly, although for beaurocratic procedural reasons it is likely to take some time before either can become fully-functioning IXPs.