Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong points out risks with spontaneous rescue maps

Thứ trưởng Bùi Hoàng Phương trong cuộc họp báo thường kỳ tháng 11 của Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong at the regular November press conference of the Ministry of Science and Technology .

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department, in the past time, the Telecommunications Department, Ministry of Science and Technology has consulted to issue many procedures and criteria related to natural disaster prevention, rescue and coordination procedures. Most recently, at the end of 2024, after Typhoon Yagi, the Ministry also issued a set of criteria for building telecommunications works, ensuring the ability to withstand risks and disasters. Most recently, Circular 14, newly issued in 2025, clearly stipulates the rights and responsibilities of the parties, including coordination regulations between enterprises in natural disaster prevention.

During the recent natural disaster, telecommunications companies have also proactively developed many coordination measures such as being ready to roam and provide mutual aid to ensure communication in storm and flood areas as well as proactively sending messages as requested by state management agencies. As a result, the telecommunications network in affected areas has been restored in a very short time, only from 1 to 3 days. There has been no prolonged interruption that affects the direction and operation as well as the daily life of the people.

Early warnings via text messages to subscribers in affected areas have also helped raise awareness and response capacity of the people. In addition, coordination between media companies and local authorities has also been enhanced, contributing to improving the overall effectiveness of flood and storm prevention work.

In addition, in areas with power outages, telecommunications companies have opened their headquarters, offices, and stations with generators for people to charge their phones, serving their communication needs. Mobilizing mobile charging stations and backup generators to densely populated areas and evacuation points so that people can connect and contact their loved ones.

Regarding the use of satellite communications in disaster prevention, Mr. Cuong said that this is a strong point of this type of communication. According to Mr. Cuong, satellite services provide wide service capabilities and are not affected by ground transmission. Therefore, the application of satellite technology in the coming time will bring about a complementary effect to the ground telecommunications infrastructure and provide communication in areas where we have not yet deployed. "This can also be an effective complementary channel for backing up transmission channels connecting BTS stations in rescue as well as restoring communication when storms and floods occur" - Mr. Cuong said.

Regarding the spontaneous rescue maps in the flood-hit areas, the representative of the Telecommunications Department said that the Department welcomes initiatives to apply telecommunications technology to build maps and provide early warnings. The Telecommunications Department is ready to act as a focal point for these initiatives to contact the official state management agency.

In addition, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong noted that although the issue of rescue maps is under the management of other ministries and branches, the Telecommunications Department needs to direct telecommunications enterprises to coordinate with individuals and units that are developing rescue maps. "The rescue maps in the recent period may be relatively accurate. However, in the worst case, if people release incorrect maps, it will affect rescue work, especially spontaneous rescue activities," said the Deputy Minister.

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