Illustrative image (Photo: VNPT) Hanoi (VNA) - Telecom service providers in Vietnam have stepped up the installation of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and plan B scenarios to prevent system overloads at competition venues for the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
To date, all facilities are ready to serve the regional event, to be held in Vietnam this May.
As the largest sporting event in the region, SEA Games 31 is projected to draw some 1 billion viewers via TV and social networks, with 1,200 hours of live broadcasts, placing huge pressure on ensuring telecom and ICT infrastructure.
A representative of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) said it is working to complete remaining tasks prior to the commencement of the Games.
In addition to setting up more transceivers, VNPT has installed high-speed Internet connections as well as bolstered 3G and 4G services at competition venues in Hanoi capital city and 10 other localities.
The transmission lines will facilitate news coverage in the fastest and most convenient manner. Inspections and trial runs were held to prevent congestion and optimise updates of competition results at SEA Games 31, the holding of press conferences, news coverage, as well as meet demand of spectators at the venues.
The company, the seventh diamond sponsor of SEA Games 31, has also planned to ensure telecom and ICT infrastructure in all situations.
At the same time, in preparation for SEA Games 31, since April 2022, Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group has reviewed conditions of equipment across all 37 competition venues in 12 cities and provinces nationwide.
The telecom service provider has envisioned all possible scenarios to build countermeasures in a bid to ensure network quality both indoor and outdoor. Viettel has prepared backups 1.5-fold against the estimated demand, with nearly 350 solutions including the addition of small cells and vehicle transmitters in combination with existing resources on the spot.
This year, Viettel has stepped up the installation of small cells at venues. The number tripled that in the previous year.
It has used an array of automatic tools to roll out a two-level real-time supervisory control system which will give out warnings automatically and balance transmission at high-risk areas. Accordingly, system overloads will be handled much faster than before. Of note, the quality of services will be supervised with the help of 5-second frames so as to quickly detect problems and automatically put forward solutions.
In regard to TV broadcast, to optimise viewers’ experience during the largest regional sporting event, Viettel has upgraded its content transmission system capacity by 25 percent.
Technicians of Viettel have devised hundreds of scenarios and countermeasures and arranged drills to stand ready for the worst, if system overloads become a problem.
Also in the first quarter of 2022, MobiFone added some 3,000 new 4G service stations to enhance coverage and capacity, particularly in 12 provinces and cities hosting competitions of SEA Games 31.
MobiFone has checked and optimised network quality at locations holding SEA Games 31 events. Mobile broadcast stations have been set up at stadiums to serve demand for mobile data that is projected to skyrocket during competitions.
All three telecom service providers of VNPT, MobiFone and Viettel have prepared countermeasures against attacks aiming at ICT infrastructure in an attempt to handle all possible situations and ensure signal transmission and coverage during the Games.
SEA Games 31, themed “For a stronger South East Asia”, will be held in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.
It will feature 40 sports with 526 events and is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but was delayed due to COVID-19./.
