The problem of developing a BTS station system to serve digital transformation
Nghe An telecommunications enterprises are making efforts to develop BTS stations to expand coverage, meeting the increasing demand for mobile phones and internet access (4G, 5G) of people.
However, in the development process, businesses are facing many difficulties and obstacles from complaints from the people, from authorities at all levels and from telecommunications businesses themselves.
Difficulties from the people
The reason why people are complaining and protesting against the installation of BTS stations is because people are concerned about the impact of BTS stations on their health. In the National Assembly session in November 2024, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung stated that there are currently about 800 broadcasting stations, accounting for 6% of the total number of stations, facing difficulties due to people's protests, due to concerns about their health.
Regarding this issue, the World Health Organization has affirmed that there is currently no evidence to prove that the electromagnetic fields of BTS stations can have harmful effects on humans. Although the power of the broadcasting station is many times larger than that of a mobile phone, the electromagnetic waves decrease rapidly after 5 meters. The use of mobile phones by people and the impact of mobile phones on health are more worrying than the waves of BTS.
Regarding telecommunications, technical standards are strictly regulated by the world. The world has an organization called the International Telecommunication Union that issues standards. In it, it clearly stipulates how much broadcasting power is needed to not affect health; the broadcasting frequency in which area to not interfere with other devices; clear regulations on lightning protection; the shared use of power in that family does not affect the surrounding devices. Vietnam also uses these standards like other countries. When a station is broadcasting, a licensed unit must come and inspect all conditions according to the above regulations. Only when it meets the standards can it be allowed to broadcast. Similarly, equipment imported into Vietnam must also meet the same standards.
However, there are also many other reasons from the people that make it impossible to build a BTS station. In many locations, the homeowners agree, but for some reason, the neighbors do not agree, leading to lawsuits and difficulties. In addition to citing health impacts, people also use the mechanical safety of the BTS station as a reason to file lawsuits, "making things difficult" for businesses and forcing businesses to dismantle the station.
According to regulations, when installing a BTS station on an existing construction, the enterprise must invite a competent organization to appraise and evaluate the durability and load-bearing capacity of the construction where the BTS is expected to be installed. This result is compiled into a dossier for a BTS station construction permit and submitted to the construction licensing authority. Based on the dossier for a BTS station construction permit, the construction licensing authority will review and grant a BTS station construction permit if it fully meets the regulations. Although the enterprise has completed all the procedures according to regulations to build, install and put the BTS station into operation and use, it is still opposed and obstructed by some people living around the BTS station, and finally the enterprise is forced to dismantle that BTS station.
A representative of MobiFone network in Nghe An said that the construction of new stations in Vinh city, the center of towns and some residential areas such as Dien Ngoc, Quynh Thanh, Nghi Lien has always been opposed by the people, although the company has completed the procedures and documents for construction permits. Currently, the company has about 30 BTS stations in these areas that cannot be implemented.
According to reports from businesses, by January 2025, there were 42 locations where people were filing complaints, not allowing installation or forcing demolition.
Dismantling BTS stations installed in accordance with regulations not only causes economic damage and affects the mobile information infrastructure planning of enterprises, but also affects the quality of mobile information services, thereby affecting the rights of users.
Difficulties from State agencies and telecommunications enterprises
To manage the implementation of planning and promote the effectiveness of shared use of telecommunications infrastructure, in 2016, the Department of Information and Communications advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision No. 50/2016/QD-UBND dated August 29, 2016 regulating the management and shared use of passive telecommunications infrastructure in Nghe An province.
However, by the end of May 2024, the number of BTS poles in common use was 325, reaching 8.6%, much lower than the target according to Decision No. 3724/UBND-CN of the Provincial People's Committee approving the Passive Telecommunications Infrastructure Planning until 2025 (40-45%). Thus, the sharing and common use of telecommunications infrastructure to ensure urban aesthetics, save infrastructure investment costs for enterprises and between sectors is still limited, lacking synchronization in coordination and implementation.
Although the Telecommunications Law and the Land Law generally allow telecommunications works to be built and installed on public land. However, there are no specific instructions from ministries and branches, accordingly, the implementation of this policy is still facing difficulties. Enterprises have difficulty in accessing technical infrastructure of traffic and construction works... especially highway works because there is no breakthrough mechanism in investment process and coordination work.
In the National Assembly session in November 2024, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that one of the reasons for the delay in deploying broadcasting stations is that currently the State does not invest in telecommunications infrastructure but enterprises have to invest. Therefore, authorities at all levels pay little attention and have not yet stepped in to help network operators. In addition, authorities at all levels have not really considered telecommunications infrastructure as strategic and important infrastructure like transport infrastructure and electricity infrastructure.
In addition to the above objective difficulties, it must be frankly admitted that in many cases, telecommunications enterprises "make it difficult" for themselves. Difficulties come from not finding common ground in language as well as sharing infrastructure. The construction of BTS stations by telecommunications enterprises today in many places still destroys urban aesthetics and wastes investment capital. Even at the same location, there are 2-3 BTS antenna towers of 2-3 mobile telecommunications networks springing up, no one is willing to share anything of anyone else.
It is time for businesses to re-evaluate themselves, adjust inappropriate behaviors, ensure harmony between the interests of businesses, people and localities, and effectively use investment costs which, in the end, are all state money. Only then can a sustainable and harmonious telecommunications market be created.
According to the report of the Department of Science and Technology of Nghe An, there are currently 3,688 4G stations and 109 5G stations in the province. Regarding the provision of 5G services, after a pilot period at some locations in Vinh city, Viettel has commercialized 5G services in Vinh city with 109 5G broadcasting locations, Vinaphone and MobiFone are conducting a trial deployment in Vinh city (Vinaphone has 02 locations, MobiFone has 03 locations). In addition, the development of infrastructure in remote areas has not been as expected due to the mountainous terrain hindering phone signals, businesses have to spend large investment costs but the number of subscribers is small.
What is the solution to the BTS station problem?
Compared to previous generations of technology (2G, 3G and 4G), the number of BTS stations needed for 5G is very large. While 2G only needs 20,000 BTS stations to cover 100% of Vietnam's area; 3G needs 30,000-35,000 stations and 4G needs 40,000-60,000 stations, 5G needs up to 200,000 stations. This is not an easy goal because the investment capital for terminal equipment is a huge number while the problem of economic efficiency has not yet been able to give a specific solution, although it is known that this will be the leading technology for Vietnam to be able to realize goals such as developing the digital economy, innovation and promoting science and technology.
To accompany the development of telecommunications enterprises, the Government has introduced many important support policies. Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW clearly stated: The State commits to investing heavily in digital infrastructure, including 5G networks and submarine optical cables to create infrastructure ahead of national development.
Following that, Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, officially realized this policy, stipulating support for network operators to invest in 5G infrastructure, in which the Government will support up to 15% of the total investment value if the enterprise deploys at least 20,000 broadcasting stations in 2025. This special support policy is considered a "pedestal" for telecommunications enterprises to accelerate 5G coverage nationwide in 2025. The Resolution allows the investment policy approval authority to decide on the use of the form of designated bidding to implement bidding packages under the above investment project for implementation in the period 2025-2030, to promptly meet the requirements of telecommunications infrastructure development of enterprises.
To achieve the goals set out in Resolution 57 in Nghe An province, it is necessary to first promote propaganda so that people and authorities at all levels understand the importance of digital infrastructure and telecommunications infrastructure for social life, and not affect health. From there, help people support the development of broadcasting stations, authorities at all levels get involved, and create conditions for businesses to deploy.
In addition, state agencies also need to coordinate and businesses must be proactive in proposing to share infrastructure with each other to reduce the number of broadcasting stations. Close supervision is needed so that 100% of broadcasting stations must be measured and ensure technical and safety before being put into operation.
To ensure the quality of mobile information coverage, meet the service needs of agencies, organizations and individuals, serve the requirements of digital transformation, socio-economic development, contribute to ensuring security and national defense in the province, in addition to the attention and facilitation of functional sectors, the participation of local authorities, telecommunications enterprises and support from the people is urgently needed./.
