According to the roadmap to stop 2G mobile technology in Vietnam, from September 16, 2024, telecommunications networks will stop providing services for terminal devices that only support the GSM (2G) standard. If only 2G network technology is supported, mobile phone models will no longer be usable after September 16. To prepare for this event, from March 1 this year, 2G phones not on the list of certified standards announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications are no longer allowed to connect to mobile networks. Dealers stop selling 2G Only phones As VietNamNet has reported, people in need can still easily find and buy 2G Only phones. These devices are often sold at small mobile stores or are advertised in online groups. Most of these models are old, used products. Rarely, there will be new products, still intact, to serve collectors.

A 2G brick phone model cannot be used after the September 16 deadline. Photo: Trong Dat

In fact, although there are still about 2 months left until the service is discontinued, most retail systems have removed 2G phone models from their sales catalog. Talking to VietNamNet, Mr. Nguyen The Kha, Commercial Director of FPT Shop System, said that this unit stopped selling 2G products 6 months ago. " Current products are all models with built-in 4G or higher, including feature phone product lines (popular phones serving basic calling and listening needs) are equipped with 4G ", Mr. Kha shared. At Viettel Store, Mr. Nguyen Minh Khue, the system's communications representative, also confirmed that 2G phones are no longer sold throughout the system, only selling 4G and 5G phones. Explaining further, Mr. Khue said that as technology develops and smartphone prices become more accessible, the demand for 2G phones will naturally decrease. Similarly, a representative of CellphoneS said that pure 2G product lines are no longer sold by this system. “ 4G feature phone lines only account for 2-3% of our sales, the remaining 97-98% comes from smartphone lines. However, the fact that the network operator stops providing services with 2G Only devices will not greatly affect the sales of feature phones, ” a representative of CellphoneS shared. The demand for low-cost phones still exists. The policy of turning off 2G waves is to promote the realization of the goal in the National Digital Transformation Program, which is to popularize 4G/5G mobile networks and smartphones to every Vietnamese citizen, thereby helping people quickly access the digital environment and services on mobile broadband. However, in reality, some users still have a need to use low-end, low-cost devices. According to Mr. D.V. Thanh, the owner of a stall selling antique phones in Hanoi, in addition to serving collectors, the elderly, and those looking to buy "brick" and "grassroots" phones, mainly uses them for "emergency" purposes when their main phones have problems, rather than for long-term use.

A cheap 4G phone model, less than 1 million VND. Photo: Trong Dat

From the perspective of a large retail system, Mr. Nguyen The Kha said that Vietnamese users still have the need to buy phone lines with basic needs such as calling, long battery life and low price. " Basic phone lines, regardless of whether they are smartphones or large screens, still have a certain market share, " said a representative of FPT Shop. In the context that a large number of mobile users are forced to upgrade their devices next September, retail agents all said that they have prepared many product lines with different price segments to be ready to serve the needs of users.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/het-thoi-oanh-liet-dien-thoai-cuc-gach-2g-bi-loai-khoi-cac-ke-hang-2302042.html