(VOVworld) – ASEAN information and technology (IT) and telecommunication have recently gained breakthroughs but still face big challenges due to a poor approach of people in rural areas to technological services. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Le Nam Thang made this remark yesterday at the opening ceremony in Hanoi of the ASEAN Telecommunication Senior Officials Meeting (ASEAN Special TELSOM) which is being jointly held by the Ministry of Information and Communication and the ASEAN Secretariat. ASEAN is implementing its master plan by 2015 through setting up an ASEAN Broadband Corridor and an ASEAN Internet Exchange. The 2-day meeting has taken place annually since 2000 in different ASEAN countries to review IT and telecommunication programs and coordination projects and discuss proposals of mechanisms and operational directions to submit to the ministerial meeting.