Removing obstacles in deploying 5G mobile base stations

5G mobile transmission station of VNPT network in Bac Giang ward.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, the province currently has nearly 290 5G mobile base stations in operation. Of these, 73 stations are located in communes and 216 stations in wards, bringing the population coverage rate of 5G to about 50%. The stations are distributed relatively evenly, concentrated in urban areas and industrial parks to meet the digital transformation needs of businesses and people.

One of the bright spots is that businesses have initially shared infrastructure, typically MobiFone using 5 stations of VNPT, helping to save investment costs, reduce the number of antenna poles and improve resource efficiency.

However, in the province, there are still 3 5G mobile transmission stations that have been deployed but not completed; there are 170 locations that have been approved to build 4G mobile transmission stations that are expected to switch to 5G but have not been deployed due to people's concerns about the health effects of electromagnetic waves and the location of the stations on public land has not yet agreed on a rental plan.

According to representatives of telecommunications enterprises, the leasing of public land and public assets to build mobile transmission stations still faces many difficulties due to the lack of specific guidance under the new provisions of the Land Law, the Law on Public Asset Management and the Telecommunications Law. Many projects are behind schedule because some households are concerned about the impact of electromagnetic waves on their health, forcing them to stop or relocate the transmission stations. Administrative procedures related to construction permits and upgrading 3-phase electricity for mobile transmission stations are still cumbersome, resulting in many costs; in some industrial parks, there is still a situation of forced price increases for sewers, tanks and fiber optic cables, making it difficult for businesses to deploy services.

According to the plan, by the end of 2025, businesses plan to install 1,018 more 5G stations on existing antenna poles (Viettel: 509 stations, VNPT: 509 stations); propose to build 248 new station locations (Viettel 136 stations, VNPT 112 stations) to expand coverage to areas without existing infrastructure, striving to achieve 5G coverage for about 80% of the province's population.

Faced with the above difficulties, telecommunications enterprises proposed that the Provincial People's Committee promptly issue detailed instructions on the use of land and public assets to build 5G mobile base stations; have sanctions to handle the situation of hindering the construction of stations; simplify the procedures for supplying 3-phase electricity, remove the regulation on paying deposit fees when signing electricity contracts for short-term mobile base stations; promptly announce the plan to renovate and bury urban infrastructure so that enterprises can proactively use resources. Enterprises proposed a mechanism to encourage sharing and sharing of mobile base station infrastructure to shorten the progress and save costs.

In an exchange with representatives of the Department of Science and Technology, it is known that the Department will continue to accompany telecommunications enterprises, closely coordinate with departments, branches and localities to propose appropriate solutions. With difficulties, obstacles and recommendations, the Department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue timely policies to remove them, creating favorable conditions for the deployment of 5G infrastructure and management of passive telecommunications infrastructure. At the same time, promote propaganda about the benefits and safety of 5G technology to create social consensus and promote the development progress of the province's digital infrastructure.

Duong Hoan

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/thao-go-vuong-mac-trong-trien-khai-tram-thu-phat-song-di-dong-5g-postid425662.bbg