Satellite technology in ensuring emergency response information

Early prevention is effective

In November 2025, natural disasters became particularly complex, with "storm after storm, flood after flood". Two consecutive storms - storm No. 13 (Kalmaegi) and storm No. 14 (FUNG-WONG) - and subsequent floods caused serious damage to infrastructure in the Central region, including the telecommunications system.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Science and Technology at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Science and Technology in November.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) said that implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Ministry of Science and Technology has consecutively issued dispatches No. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29/CD-BKHCN, requesting telecommunications units and enterprises to thoroughly grasp the spirit of proactiveness, immediately deploy response plans, protect infrastructure and maintain communication.

Before the disaster, telecommunications companies activated roaming to ensure information for command and control; coordinated the sending of four warning messages to 48.6 million subscribers as requested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ; and mobilized technical forces, backup equipment, and fuel storage so that generators could operate continuously for 72 hours when the grid lost power.

During natural disasters, prolonged heavy rains, flash floods and landslides severely affected the information system. In Gia Lai and Dak Lak, at the peak of storm No. 13, 906/6,307 BTS stations (14%) lost contact; after storm No. 14, this number was 1,202/8,742 stations (14%) in Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa. By using professional measures such as adjusting the capacity of neighboring stations and deploying mobile broadcasting vehicles for temporary replacement, the telecommunications industry still ensured 100% communication to village and hamlet leaders, serving the rescue direction work. However, the quality of service for people could not be maintained as normal conditions.

After the disaster, as soon as they reached the scene, businesses mobilized hundreds of technical staff, vehicles and equipment to restore each lost point of communication. In many areas without grid electricity, communication was still maintained thanks to the backup generator system. Thanks to that, most of the telecommunications network in the affected areas was restored in just 1-3 days, without any prolonged interruption affecting operations.

Early warning text messaging continues to be effective, helping people to grasp the developments of floods and proactively respond. Close coordination between telecommunications companies and local authorities also contributes to improving the overall effectiveness of disaster prevention work.

Take proactive measures to ensure communication

Notably, in areas with power outages, many businesses have opened their headquarters and stations with generators for people to charge their phones and maintain communication connections. Mobile BTS stations, backup charging points, and generators have been deployed to evacuation sites and densely populated areas, ensuring that people can contact their loved ones and receive timely updates.

VinaPhone supports people to charge batteries at transaction points. (Photo: VNPT)

At the same time, network operators have implemented many policies to maintain and renew packages and telecommunication accounts for subscribers in heavily damaged areas, helping people continue to maintain communication during difficult times.

The Telecommunications Department has advised on the issuance of procedures and criteria related to natural disaster prevention, search and rescue and coordination mechanisms. Specifically, after the storm at the end of 2024, the Ministry issued a set of criteria for building telecommunications works to ensure sustainability against disaster risks. These regulations are specified in Circular 14, newly issued in 2025.

Telecommunications businesses have proactively developed coordination measures, are ready to support each other and restore networks in most affected areas in a very short time, from 1-3 days, without prolonged interruptions.

Representatives of the Telecommunications Department assessed that the application of satellite technology in the coming time (such as Starlink) will be an effective supplement to ground infrastructure, providing communication in areas with signal interference, and is a backup support channel, a very important connection transmission channel in disaster prevention and control.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong noted about the Digital Rescue Map.

Regarding the issue of Digital Rescue Maps being developed by independent programmers, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong especially noted the Telecommunications Department's role in coordinating the management of the above spontaneous rescue information maps.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that although the State management responsibility for flood information maps belongs to the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the Department of Telecommunications needs to direct telecommunications enterprises to consider how to coordinate.

“The biggest concern is to avoid releasing incorrect maps, which can seriously affect rescue efforts, especially when people spontaneously rescue based on inaccurate information. The Ministry of Science and Technology welcomes initiatives to apply telecommunications technology to build maps and provide early warnings, and the Telecommunications Department is ready to act as a focal point for these initiatives to contact the official State management agency,” Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong shared.

Thu Huong

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/cong-nghe-ve-tinh-trong-bao-dam-thong-tin-ung-cuu-khan-cap.html

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