(baosonla.org.vn) - The Ministry of Information and Communications has set a target of 100% 4G network coverage for the population by 2025 and 100% 5G coverage by 2030. To achieve this goal, Son La province and telecommunications businesses are focusing resources on building mobile base stations, with the motto "wherever electricity goes, telecommunications goes too," ensuring comprehensive coverage, reaching remote areas, border regions, and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities.
Viettel Son La has installed a base station in Group 3, Chieng An Ward, Son La City.
The Department of Information and Communications has developed a plan for the development of broadband telecommunications infrastructure in the province. At the same time, it has requested telecommunications businesses to invest in infrastructure to expand connectivity and eliminate "dead zones" so that all citizens can enjoy telecommunications services, access digital transformation, and benefit from its achievements.
To date, all 204 communes, wards, and towns in the province have fiber optic broadband infrastructure; the percentage of villages covered by fixed broadband reaches 70.33%; and 46.32% of households have fiber optic subscriptions. The province has 1,516 fiber optic transmission lines with a total length of 11,500 km connecting the province to districts, cities, and communes, wards, and towns. Telecommunications infrastructure continues to receive significant investment from businesses in remote areas, particularly the deployment of 4G mobile networks to 100% of communes, wards, and towns; 98.3% of villages are covered by 3G and 4G mobile broadband; and 4G data download speeds reach 30 Mb/s or higher.
However, there are still 36 villages in the province without 4G coverage. Covering these underserved areas is difficult because these villages and residential areas have sparse and scattered populations, and the terrain is fragmented. Some villages lack electricity, so using generators or installing base stations would increase costs. Many locations for base stations are on public land, near residential areas, and processing the necessary procedures can take months or even a year.
The Department of Information and Communications and telecommunications enterprises are continuing to accelerate the expansion of mobile broadband coverage to areas with weak signal; and continuing to implement the public telecommunications program for the 2022-2025 period. Mobilizing the involvement of state agencies, along with telecommunications enterprises, to unify commitments to implementing coverage for areas without mobile broadband coverage, contributing to narrowing the digital divide, ensuring social welfare, and making a positive contribution to the socio-economic development and digital transformation program of the province.
Bao Trang