According to Dr. Nadia Bloemendaal, a climate researcher at the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Amsterdam, severe storms in northern Vietnam could occur annually, rather than once every 70 years as they did in the past.
Despite meticulous preparation, the loss of life and property remains substantial. While there are many lessons to be learned from the disaster, one issue must not be repeated in future crises—whether it’s typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, wars, or large-scale pandemics: the collapse of communication systems over vast areas during critical times.
On September 7th, at 1:00 p.m., Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Hai Phong. By the evening, 6,285 mobile base stations across 15 provinces were offline, leaving regions such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, and even Hanoi without communication. This widespread outage was caused by power failures, as most of the affected mobile base stations were reliant on the electrical grid. Once the power was out, these stations became non-operational.
Additionally, Typhoon Yagi brought winds of over 184 km/h, which not only uprooted trees and knocked down power lines but also destroyed numerous telecommunications towers. In times of crisis, communication is of utmost importance. Without information, authorities cannot assess ongoing developments, understand the current situation, or issue necessary directives to address emergencies in real-time.
Vietnam's telecommunications network, which serves these 15 affected provinces, is managed by major providers such as VNPT, MobiFone, and Viettel. These networks rely on tens of thousands of mobile base stations (BTS), alongside smaller stations (small cells), to provide coverage even in remote areas. Under normal circumstances, these systems allow people to communicate quickly and easily via smartphones. However, in the event of a power outage, this entire network collapses, leaving regions isolated.
It appears that telecommunications service providers have become overly reliant on the stability of their systems under normal conditions, without making adequate contingency plans. When a disaster struck, the lack of preparation became glaringly evident. Undoubtedly, service providers have now recognized this vulnerability and will work on solutions moving forward.
One solution, already in use in more advanced countries, is satellite-based communication systems. These systems connect computers and smartphones directly to satellites orbiting 550 kilometers above the Earth. Signals are transmitted from the satellites directly to ground-based receivers, bypassing the need for terrestrial infrastructure. The strength of satellite internet is that it removes the limitations imposed by distance. Even in mountainous regions or remote islands with challenging terrain, people can access the internet as usual, and the required receiving devices are relatively simple.
However, satellite communication comes with its own challenges. The cost of using satellite services remains high, primarily because Vietnam does not yet have its own telecommunications satellite and must lease services. While it may not be feasible to equip the entire country with satellite-based internet, providing a satellite phone for each village, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach areas, is a realistic and necessary goal.
Recent events have demonstrated the importance of satellite communication. After Typhoon Yagi, VNPT restored telecommunications on Bach Long Vi Island, which had lost all mobile coverage for more than 20 hours, by utilizing satellite links. This allowed the island to reconnect not through fiber optics or traditional base stations, which had been destroyed, but through satellite connections. VNPT also provided satellite phones to local leaders, enabling them to communicate with authorities in Hai Phong for necessary directives. By September 11th, the public telecommunications network, including Vinaphone coverage, was restored on Bach Long Vi, to the relief of local authorities and residents.
One critical issue to emphasize is the telecommunications network's dependency on electricity. In the event of a power outage, not only does communication falter, but all essential services are disrupted. During the recent storm, power outages plagued the 15 affected provinces, including major cities like Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh. These outages were caused by thousands of downed power lines and uprooted trees.
This brings to light the need for cities to reconsider their infrastructure, especially in the context of increasing extreme weather events due to climate change. One solution is to underground electrical and telecommunications cables. Burying these systems would significantly reduce the likelihood of outages during storms, providing greater resilience in times of disaster.
As we look to the future, the unpredictability of climate change and the growing complexity of the global political landscape mean that we must be prepared for anything. As the ancient Chinese military strategy advises: “Train for war over years, to be prepared for an hour of battle.” In today’s world, this preparation extends beyond military conflicts to natural disasters and other large-scale crises.
Vietnam has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of extreme weather, and the frequency of such events is only set to increase. Building a resilient communications infrastructure is not just a technical challenge but a necessity for safeguarding lives and coordinating effective disaster response.
Communication is the lifeblood of disaster response. When systems fail, the consequences can be severe. In the case of Typhoon Yagi, the loss of telecommunications hindered the ability of local authorities to assess damage, coordinate relief efforts, and issue timely directives. Moving forward, Vietnam must take steps to ensure that communication systems are more resilient, whether through improved backup power systems, satellite-based communication, or infrastructure improvements such as underground wiring.
As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increase, building a robust, reliable communication network will be essential for ensuring public safety and maintaining order during emergencies. With proper preparation, Vietnam can mitigate the damage caused by future storms and ensure that the lifeblood of communication remains intact, even in the face of nature’s most destructive forces.
