Urgently fix telecommunications infrastructure problems

The Vinaphone network's transmitting and receiving station (VNPT Lao Cai) located in the center of Quang Kim commune, Bat Xat district, operates effectively every day, serving thousands of households in the area and neighboring areas. However, prolonged rain and floods caused the Ngoi San stream to rise, flooding the operating house, making the transmitting station unable to operate.

Telecommunications infrastructure in many localities in the province was damaged due to storms and rains.

After the water receded, the power grid was cut off, the backup generator was damaged due to flooding, VNPT Lao Cai had to add another generator to operate continuously day and night to operate the Quang Kim commune central receiving and broadcasting station again. Currently, the Quang Kim commune central receiving and broadcasting station of Vinaphone network has been operating normally, facilitating communication between people and local authorities, and directing and operating flood recovery work from all levels is transmitted quickly and accurately.

Checking the quality of the online meeting connection at Bat Xat bridge on the afternoon of September 10.

Unlike Quang Kim, many highland communes in Bat Xat district are currently without national grid electricity, with severely damaged telecommunications infrastructure, and almost completely stopped communication via telephone and internet. It is known that immediately after the incident, service providers in Bat Xat district actively and proactively responded, fixed and repaired the problem to quickly reconnect. However, due to the destruction of transport infrastructure in many places causing traffic jams, officers and workers of the network providers could not transport equipment and access areas with telecommunications problems to fix and repair.

Floods have greatly affected telecommunications infrastructure in the province.

Ms. Ban Thanh Thao, Acting Chairwoman of Bat Xat District People's Committee, said: Currently, in Bat Xat District, there are still many communes that have not been connected to the mobile network or the internet, causing difficulties in directing and managing the work of overcoming the consequences of floods. After having a mobile network or internet connection, we will be able to easily discuss with local leaders to find more effective solutions to overcome natural disasters, while supporting people to soon stabilize their lives.

It is known that the floods have caused 117/938 cable lines to be broken and affected; 395/1,221 broadcasting stations to be affected and lose communication. Of which, 15 communes lost mobile signals of all 3 networks Vinaphone, Viettel, MobiFone; 25 communes lost mobile signals of both networks Vinaphone, Viettel and VNPT, losing signal in the entire area of ​​Bat Xat and Bao Yen districts.

Mr. Tran Minh Duc, Director of VNPT Lao Cai, said: The floods have caused many transmission lines of VNPT Lao Cai to be cut off. In addition, the widespread power outage in the province has also caused the loss of communication with hundreds of broadcasting stations. In this situation, we have implemented the "4 on-site" motto, organized response teams, and urgently restored the operations of broadcasting and receiving stations as soon as possible.

Generators were brought in to power the receiving and transmitting stations.

As of the afternoon of September 10, VNPT Lao Cai has repaired the cable line from Bac Ha to Si Ma Cai; restored mobile network and internet in the two districts of Si Ma Cai and Muong Khuong. Currently, the company has implemented mobile roaming between network operators; instructed people to use roaming services when losing mobile signal.

Currently, power outages have occurred on a large scale, affecting traffic, with few human resources, maintaining communication is very difficult. For now, businesses focus on maintaining central, important points, gradually overcoming other areas; mobilizing backup generators to Pho Rang and Bao Yen stations.

To ensure smooth communication, the Department of Information and Communications requests the Department of Transport to support and prioritize overcoming landslides on the Coc My - A Mu Sung - Y Ty route, some roads in Sa Pa town, Bao Yen district to respond to information promptly; the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Industry and Trade direct Lao Cai Electricity Company to support maintaining the power grid at the main stations and centers of telecommunications enterprises in the province; direct gas stations to prioritize supplying fuel to telecommunications enterprises to maintain mobile broadcasting stations, especially in Bac Ha and Simacai districts. The People's Committees of districts/towns/cities have optimal plans for telecommunications enterprises' employees to access, handle and fix problems promptly.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications, said: We have strongly directed telecommunications enterprises in the area to develop plans to overcome incidents from the commune level to the provincial level. In addition, we proactively implement roaming connections between network operators; proactively reserve resources to handle emergency incidents.

Restoring telecommunications infrastructure is one of the important and urgent tasks, especially in localities that are suffering from floods causing heavy damage to people and property. All levels, sectors, localities and telecommunications enterprises in the area need to join hands and make efforts to restore mobile networks and the internet as soon as possible, because these are very important and effective tools in directing, operating, preventing, combating and overcoming post-natural disasters.

Source: https://mic.gov.vn/khan-truong-khac-phuc-su-co-ha-tang-vien-thong-197240911082548533.htm