HÀ NỘI — Mobile phone operators said they are making preparations to avoid network congestion during the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.

The operators, including VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel will increase capacity on their networks, expand coverage areas and increase the number of 3G base transceiver stations (BTS) and mobile broadcast vehicles.

MobiFone said that a large number of customers would move from big cities to the southwestern region, central region and northern delta, therefore, capacity in these regions would be doubled or tripled.

The mobile operator has also increased its capacity at festival venues or places of amusement, to meet the predicted boom in demand.

30 broadcast vehicles would be deployed to places experiencing high demand.

Meanwhile, Viettel has prepared 74 vehicles for festival hotspots or crowded apartment blocks.

In addition, 200 wireless routers will also be set up at key locations ready for the upcoming Tết holiday.

Viettel has invested in more than 190 new BTS, improved hardware resources for nearly 2,200 BTS, and optimised and upgraded configurations on more than 14,000 broadcasting stations in all cities and provinces nationwide.

Viettel also expects to officially roll out 4G services across the country in the first quarter of this year.

Another mobile phone giant, VNPT – VinaPhone, has completed nearly 8,000 3G broadcast stations. The provider has the largest 3G coverage area in Việt Nam.

VNPT – Vinaphone has prepared plans to increase 3G services to increase capacity, expand coverage area and ensure 34 free wifi broadcast stations around Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

In other provinces and cities, as well as key locations, 3G broadcasting stations have been improved to ensure the provision of Internet services in the Lunar New Year holiday, said Vinaphone.

Free wifi at festival spots in major cities

HCM City, Hà Nội, Cần Thơ and Nha Trang will offer free wireless internet 24 hours a day at flower markets during Tết, according to the Saigon Posts And Telecommunications Service Joint-Stock Corporation (SPT).

In HCM City, the service will be available at Tao Đàn, Gia Định, Lê Văn Tám, and Lê Thị Riêng Parks; the International Square; and Nguyễn Huệ Flower Street.

In Hà Nội, it will be provided at flower markets on Lạc Long Quân and Hoàng Hoa Thám streets, Quảng An, Quảng Bá and Nhật Tân flower markets and Hàng Lược Flower Street.

Elsewhere, Trần Phú Street and Yến Phi Park in Nha Trang, and the Ninh Kiều Wharf flower market, Võ Văn Tần Flower Street and a flower market on Hoàng Văn Thụ Street in Cần Thơ will also be covered.

SPT’s S-wifi project provides free wifi in more than 14 provinces and cities, mainly to hospitals, schools and public areas in populous localities, benefiting more than 12 million users. — VNS