According to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)’s Telecommunications Department, the storm has impacted 6,285 mobile base stations across 15 provinces and cities, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi. This has led to widespread communication blackouts in storm-affected regions.

As of the evening of September 9th, telecom companies had successfully restored key backbone and inter-provincial transmission lines. However, some branch fiber optic cables remain out of service due to continued flooding and isolation in certain areas.

Over the past two days, telecom providers have managed to restore 3,010 mobile base stations using generators. However, the complete restoration of telecommunication services is still dependent on the re-establishment of grid power, which remains unavailable in many locations.

As of now, 3,275 mobile stations remain offline, with the majority concentrated in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Hai Duong. The MIC has directed telecom companies to continue implementing restoration measures.

The Telecommunications Department is working closely with local authorities to identify priority areas and restore communications in critical infrastructure locations. Special attention is being given to mobile towers that serve coastal and island areas, ensuring uninterrupted communication for search and rescue operations at sea.

Telecom companies are also coordinating efforts to deploy emergency resources from unaffected provinces to assist the regions hardest hit by the storm. In many cases, mobile stations are being powered by generators while mobile broadcasting vehicles are deployed to areas where antennas have collapsed.

Mr. Dao Xuan Vu, Deputy General Director of Viettel, shared insights into the challenges faced by the company: "Storm Yagi has caused significant damage to our telecommunications infrastructure. We are fully committed to restoring services as quickly as possible, prioritizing essential areas to resume services for our customers."

MobiFone has also taken steps to address the situation, deploying mobile broadcast vehicles to Quang Ninh, where service restoration has been particularly challenging. The company’s stores in the region have remained open overnight to offer residents phone charging, access to potable water, and free WiFi.

In Hai Phong, the widespread damage caused by fallen trees, power outages, and severe flooding has complicated efforts to restore communication. MobiFone has mobilized hundreds of technicians from its northern network centers and nearby provinces to assist in restoration efforts, with plans to resume services in Hai Phong in the coming days.

The MIC has requested that the provincial Departments of Information and Communications coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to work with local branches of the Electricity of Vietnam to expedite the restoration of grid power. Timely restoration of power is critical for telecom companies to fully restore mobile communication services in affected areas.

Efforts to re-establish telecommunications services remain a top priority as the affected regions of Northern Vietnam continue to recover from the damage left in the wake of Storm Yagi.

Trong Dat