Brian Jeffrey
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) reports that Storm Yagi had a severe impact on the telecommunications network. It disrupted seven inter-provincial fiber optic cables and damaged 12 intra-provincial transmission lines.
Additionally, 27 mobile towers collapsed in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, with VNPT losing 23 towers and Vietnamobile losing four.
In total, 6,285 mobile base stations faced power interruptions, contributing to communication outages across 15 provinces and cities.
In the aftermath of the storm, the MIC directed telecom companies to prioritize the swift restoration of communication services. The Telecommunications Department is working alongside the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to accelerate power restoration in the affected areas.
As of September 9th, repairs on the key backbone and inter-provincial transmission lines were completed, though some branch fiber optic cables remain unreachable due to flooding and isolation in specific areas.
Within days of the storm’s end, telecom companies restored over 3,000 mobile base stations using portable generators. However, 3,275 stations are still offline, predominantly in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, and Bac Giang provinces. The MIC is closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with telecom providers to resolve these issues.
To enhance communication reliability, the ministry has instructed telecom firms to prioritize repairs on mobile base stations situated along the coastline, especially those crucial for search and rescue operations at sea.
Support has been mobilized from unaffected provinces to help those severely impacted by the storm, with a focus on fixed broadband customers who are experiencing extended service interruptions.
The ministry has also asked telecom companies to continue utilizing generators in areas lacking power and to transport additional equipment, materials, and fuel from less-affected regions to aid restoration activities.
Mobile broadcasting units have been sent to deliver temporary communication services in locations where mobile towers have failed.
Furthermore, telecom providers must establish roaming agreements, allowing customers in outage zones to access mobile services from alternate networks.
Encouraging collaboration among telecom providers to share infrastructure and equipment will help accelerate recovery efforts.
The MIC has called on the government to prioritize restoring grid power in areas still without electricity, stressing the necessity of power for base stations to achieve complete restoration of communication services.
Additionally, local authorities are requested to assist emergency teams in accessing remote areas to repair damaged infrastructure.
Restoring telecommunications services takes precedence, as reliable communication networks are vital for managing relief efforts and ensuring public safety following the storm.
