Network operators commit to providing maximum support for people to switch from 2G to 4G

On December 5, in Hanoi, the Information Technology Journalists Club (ICT Press Club) organized a discussion on “Switching off 2G waves, bringing people to the digital environment”. The event’s goal was to listen to the voices of management agencies and telecommunications businesses on the roadmap for switching off 2G waves, as well as the impact of this on users and the domestic telecommunications market.

At the discussion, Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications) said that up to now, the Ministry of Information and Communications has had many solutions and policies to stop the 2G network. Accordingly, units of the Ministry of Information and Communications have proposed since 2016, the time when Vietnam licensed 4G technology, with a term until 2024. This is the time when network operators orient and consider re-issuing subscribers, and at the same time converting numbers and technology. In terms of implementation, network operators currently have plans to stop their 2G technology and test new 5G technology.

According to Mr. Nha, a network operator cannot exist with 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies at the same time. This minimizes difficulties for broadcasting devices, which is the correct policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications, supported by businesses and network operators.

“By 2030, the Ministry of Information and Communications plans to start using 6G technology. Therefore, 2G technology phones will no longer be used, imported, or circulated on the market,” Mr. Nha informed.

Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications Nguyen Phong Nha speaks at the seminar

Mr. Nha also said that currently on the national network system, there are more than 15 million active 2G subscribers. The Vietnam Public Telecommunications Service Fund (Ministry of Information and Communications) will sponsor 400,000 telephones to support priority subjects such as remote areas, those with especially difficult circumstances in the transition to new technology.

"The Ministry of Information and Communications will coordinate with local authorities to mobilize social support resources to help people eligible for the policy to switch to 4G in a synchronous manner," said Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha.

Viettel Telecom Deputy General Director Nguyen Trong Tinh speaks at the seminar

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom, the conversion of customers using 2G network to 4G has not happened in the last 1-2 years, but has been done for about 4 years. Currently, Viettel is the first network operator to successfully convert all 3G subscribers to 4G, with only 2% of customers using 3G. According to Mr. Tinh, stopping old technologies to focus resources on new technologies will bring great economic benefits and resources to telecommunications businesses. However, the rate of 2G subscribers in Vietnam is still generally high compared to other countries in the region and developed countries, with approximately 16% of subscribers using only 2G (2G only).

Mr. Tinh said that by the end of 2024, Viettel will continue to move the remaining customers, and only when this rate is below 5% will the broadcasting station be turned off. Viettel will also do a good job of covering 4G in all areas of Viettel, including remote areas, border areas, and islands. In addition, Viettel also supports a part of the service price for customers, bringing the 4G service price to a very low level, close to, or even lower than the current 2G service, suitable for customers' needs. Viettel also supports up to 50% of the price of the device for customers switching from 2G to 4G, including smartphones and feature phones.

Deputy Head of Technology Department of VNPT Group Nguyen Quoc Khanh spoke at the seminar

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Deputy Head of Technology Department of VNPT Group, said that VNPT wishes to join other network operators and related parties to turn off 2G waves. In 2015-2016, Vinafone's 2G traffic accounted for 60%. When 3G and 4G are applied, VNPT will move towards a plan to cut off 2G waves, combining it with programs to prioritize the development of subscribers using 3G and 4G. In the past two years, VNPT has proactively turned off individual stations when demand or traffic usage is low. According to the direction and orientation of the Ministry of Information and Communications, by September 2024, VNPT is committed to converting all 2G only subscribers, which currently account for about 6% of the network operator's total subscribers.

According to Mr. Khanh, VNPT will give away smartphones and provide subsidies to customers using 2G only in some remote areas, islands... to help people switch to 3G, 4G technology. By the end of this year, VNPT will apply new technology to detect subscribers who do not comply with legal regulations, so that the network operator can easily manage them.

Deputy Head of Mobifone Communications Department Le Mai Son spoke at the seminar

Mr. Le Mai Son, Deputy Head of Mobifone Communications Department, said that Mobifone supports the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications in converting from 2G to 4G network. This is consistent with the viewpoint of both harmonizing and optimizing for businesses, while still ensuring the interests of Mobifone customers. In the past, Mobifone has gradually turned off 2G only subscribers in low-access areas, and at the same time has a plan to assess the impact on people, as well as a specific roadmap to completely cut off 2G subscribers.

However, Mr. Son said that more time is needed to convince people, including limiting the barriers of traditional 2G technology, and switching to new technologies. Mr. Son also said that to move towards completely turning off 2G waves, it is necessary to implement synchronously throughout society, need to be coordinated by state agencies, then telecommunications units, and the press, to become a campaign for people to understand that this is an upgrade, instead of elimination.

Mr. Dao Hai Nam, representative of Vietnamobile network, said that eliminating 2G brings many benefits to customers. Vietnamobile currently prioritizes frequencies for 4G, gradually eliminating 2G. However, Vietnamobile still has a significant number of customers using 2G, so the network proposed to turn it off at the appropriate time.

TRAN BINH

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