Hai Phong and Quang Ninh have escaped the scene of no mobile signal after storm Yagi.

Over the past week, storm No. 3 (international name Yagi) and its circulation have caused major damage to mobile telecommunications infrastructure in many localities.

The prolonged power outage, along with a series of fallen electric poles and trees, and cable car infrastructure, has seriously affected the telecommunications networks of network operators.

According to the Telecommunications Department, at the most difficult time, some network operators lost more than 50% of their network.

However, with the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Department of Information and Communications of localities, along with the tireless efforts of the technical staff of network operators, the telecommunications networks of provinces and cities have almost been restored, even in the most severely affected areas.

According to estimates from the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh province, due to the impact of storm No. 3, telecommunications, postal and cable television businesses in the area were seriously affected. Of which, cable television businesses suffered losses of about VND9.5 billion, and postal businesses suffered losses of VND3 billion.

In the telecommunications sector alone, network operators are focusing on troubleshooting so it is not yet possible to accurately estimate the extent of material damage.

Ms. Le Ngoc Han, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh province, said that up to now, the telecommunications network in Quang Ninh has basically returned to normal.

Typhoon Yagi caused heavy damage in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh. Photo: Hoang Ha

According to the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh province, during the time super typhoon Yagi made landfall, the entire telecommunications network of Quang Ninh province was almost paralyzed, only a part of the network of VNPT VinaPhone was maintained, and then gradually restored.

With the level 17 gusts of Typhoon Yagi, damage to the telecommunications network is not unusual. However, based on what has happened, the Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh province said that it is necessary to review the standards, regulations, and techniques in the telecommunications sector to respond to natural disasters and catastrophes in the context of climate change, which makes the weather increasingly complicated.

Quang Ninh Department of Information and Communications also proposed the need to develop a plan to ensure communication in special and emergency situations.

“ When the storm hits, the infrastructure and means serving communication work are severely affected. In such situations, it is necessary to have a plan for communication solutions such as what equipment to use? What are the alternative equipment when broadcasting transmission is affected, and loudspeaker clusters are paralyzed? ”, the Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh asked.

In Quang Ninh and many provinces affected by storms and floods, there is a situation of fake news, false information, fake fanpages to scam and call for support. The Department of Information and Communications of Quang Ninh hopes that the Ministry of Information and Communications will join with the provinces to prevent this situation.

Hai Phong city devastated after storm Yagi. Photo: Pham Hai

In Hai Phong, one of the two localities where Typhoon Yagi made direct landfall, the damage caused by the storm to telecommunications infrastructure is still undetermined. However, initial data shows that the super typhoon has broken 48 mobile transmission stations. The two island districts of Cat Hai (where Cat Ba Island is located) and Bach Long Vi are the most severely affected.

According to Mr. Pham Van Tuan, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Hai Phong, in the context of the super typhoon making landfall causing great impacts on telecommunications infrastructure, communication and command between Bach Long Vi island district and Hai Phong city can still be carried out via satellite phone.

With Cat Ba Island, the fiber optic cable connecting the mainland and the island is overlapping the sea, so it must be cut to serve the ships. On September 9, the Department of Information and Communications of Hai Phong coordinated with Viettel and VNPT to fix the fiber optic cable connecting to the island by using a cable car system to serve tourism.

To date, communication with the two island districts of Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi has returned to normal. Over 90% of the networks of the three mobile telecommunications networks have also been restored. Telecommunications companies are continuing to repair the damage caused by storms to telecommunications network infrastructure.

Drawing on experience in dealing with super typhoon Yagi, the Hai Phong Department of Information and Communications proposed a plan to use satellite phones for the city's flood and storm prevention command.

The Department of Information and Communications of Hai Phong also hopes that district and commune centers will have solid BTS stations shared among network operators to serve command and control in emergency situations.

Mobile waves return to many northern mountainous provinces

In just a short time, hundreds of BTS stations that lost mobile signals were repaired by localities, contributing significantly to the restoration of the telecommunications network.

Set up hundreds of free phone charging points for people in storm-hit areas

Network operators are setting up hundreds of free phone charging points in storm-hit provinces and areas with power outages to serve the needs of mobile users.

Yen Bai submerged in water, but no area is isolated

Due to the impact of floods and landslides, many base transceiver stations (BTS) in Yen Bai lost signal due to loss of fiber optic cable, power outage or flooding.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hai-phong-quang-ninh-da-thoat-canh-trang-song-di-dong-sau-bao-yagi-2322226.html