One of the critical goals of Da Nang’s government in the digital transformation process is to promote the implementation of the digital society, bringing people numerous benefits. Therefore, the installation of free wifi for self-managed worker groups and workers living in rented accommodations in the city has got many practical effects, shortening the distance between the government and the people, in tandem with contributing to the systematic construction of a digital infrastructure data network system from the grassroots.

Technical staff supporting wifi installation are assisting workers in choosing free broadcast addresses. Photo: the reporter

Creating conditions for employees to use public services

Currently, Da Nang has promoted digital transformation and has been on the way to becoming a smart city to provide smart services for citizens and businesses based on digital infrastructure and digital data. The digital transformation process inherits from the implementation of e-government, data-centric smart cities. The city has invested in building a private telecommunications network with a total length of 400km of underground optical cables to connect agencies and units.

In addition, the city’s data centre has a large storage capacity designed and operated according to proper standards, ensuring computing capacity and storage capacity for e-government construction. This centre has always been updated and expanded to build a smart city. Da Nang has completed the construction of the database of citizens, businesses, demographics, household registration, land, and administrative procedures. Till date, 560 specialized databases have been developed to provide intelligent applications and services based on data to people and businesses.

According to the latest report of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, since December 2018, the whole city has completed the installation of free wifi for 18 out of 38 areas where rental accommodations are concentrated in Cam Le, Lien Chieu and Son Tra districts, where have a large number of workers working in industrial parks and export processing zones.

The free wifi systems at these places for workers in the 3 districts are connected to the city's urban network system and are regularly checked. The internet access speed in these places reaches more than 40Mbps. At peak times in the evenings and on Sundays, the average number of users is over 300 to 400 people.

The installation of wifi in places that have a lot of workers is a crucial t step in accelerating the progress of infrastructure construction, creating a better living environment, contributing to accelerating the digitalization of e-government, and helping Da Nang soon achieve the targets set out in building digital government and digital technology. The free wireless internet access system is expected to meet the goal of improving living conditions for workers, helping workers have better conditions to learn more about guidelines of the Party, the State's policies and laws on labour, to update news related to Trade Union, working, and daily life.

According to the Department of Information and Communications, in 2023, the unit will coordinate with localities to continue to survey and develop a plan to deploy and install free Da Nang wifi for areas having self-managed worker groups and other20 areas having rental accommodations for workers.

Building a digital society
In 2021, the Da Nang People's Committee issued Decision No. 2870/QD-UBND on promulgating the Digital Transformation Project in the city till 2025, with an orientation to 2030. This project identifies the digital society as one of the most important criteria, putting people and businesses at the centre of digital transformation, in the direction of building a livable city. Da Nang aims to be in the group of 3 leading localities in digital transformation, information security and e-commerce by 2025.

To be more specific, the city will focus on developing a digital society with every household having a digital address and accessing broadband internet services; 100% of people of working age use smartphones; 90% of people and businesses are equipped with digital skills and codes of conduct in the digital environment; participate in learning, labour, production, have some daily activities in the digital environment; have access to use digital services and digital information of the Party, national government and socio-political organisations of the city; at least 50% of the city's residential areas have 5G service coverage; each citizen can track on the ambulance journey on the mobile application, and be monitored and consulted by a doctor.

Moreover, by 2030, 90% of people have smartphones; 95% of people and businesses are equipped with digital skills and codes of conduct in the digital environment; participate in learning, labour, and production, have some daily activities in the digital environment; have access to use digital services and digital information of the Party, the government, the Front and the city's socio-political organizations; 100% of the city's residential areas have 5G service coverage.

In general, all of the goals that Da Nang is aiming for in the digital society are formed on the criteria of placing people closest to the government via digital transformation and information technology. The installation of a free wifi network has contributed to improving the spiritual life of employees. More importantly, the digital database coverage helps people to accompany the city government in the process of building a digital government and smart city.

Reporting by HOANG NGUYEN- Translating by T.VY