In which cases will "brick" phones be blocked from accessing the network from March 1?

As reported by VietNamNet , from March 1, 2024, 2G land-based mobile phones that are not certified will not be allowed to connect to mobile networks.

Telecommunications companies will not allow new mobile phones that only support 2G technology (2G Only) and are not on the list of 2G phones certified as conforming to regulations announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications to be imported into the network.

To clarify, VietNamNet contacted the Telecommunications Department to help readers understand the information correctly. According to the explanation from the Telecommunications Department, when people go to buy a new SIM card, if the phone they are using is a 2G “brick” phone (can be old or new), not on the list of those granted a certificate of conformity, they will be refused to join the network.

This also means that with mobile phones that only support 2G (2G Only), have been in circulation in Vietnam for a long time and have a certificate of conformity, users can still install a new SIM to connect to the network normally.

Thus, only when users activate a new SIM, but use a “brick” phone that is not on the list announced by the Telecommunications Department, will they not be allowed to connect to the network. These non-compliant devices can be understood as hand-carried, smuggled or imported into Vietnam through unofficial channels.

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If you own a 2G phone on the list with a certified standard, you can still use it normally after March 1. However, users should have a plan to switch because 2G Only subscribers will gradually be removed from the network.

To implement the policy and direction of stopping 2G mobile technology and popularizing smartphones, the Ministry of Information and Communications has issued a Circular prohibiting the import and circulation of phones with only 2G connections. However, in reality, there is still a situation of 2G Only devices being hand-carried and smuggled.

When asked about the issue of 2G devices floating on the market, Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications) said that through the actual inspection of a number of device sales points in provinces and cities by the Ministry Inspectorate, there is still the trading of 2G devices that are not officially imported, in addition to old 2G phone models.

With this reality, the Telecommunications Department will actively communicate and coordinate with network operators to review newly registered devices. This is to ensure that subscribers who do not comply with regulations will not be allowed to register for new networks.

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For users who need to use a "brick" phone, they can still find and buy feature phone models that support 4G connectivity.

When will Vietnam turn off 2G?

Blocking new connections of non-standard 2G devices from March 1 is just one solution in the roadmap to implement the direction of stopping 2G mobile technology and popularizing smartphones in Vietnam.

According to Ms. Vu Thu Hien, Head of Frequency Policy and Planning Department (Radio Frequency Department, Ministry of Information and Communications), by September 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications aims to have no more 2G Only subscribers on the mobile network.

However, there are currently some early 3G and 4G smartphone subscribers on the market that do not have the VoLTE feature integrated. These phone models are forced to make voice calls via 2G and 3G platforms and can still continue to be used until September 2026.

During the period from September 2024 to September 2026, the 2G network system in Vietnam will be maintained but no new subscribers will be developed. During these 2 years, the 2G network system will only be used to provide voice services to 3G and 4G subscribers without VoLTE feature.

Maintaining the 900 MHz band for 2G until 2026 is a soft transition, giving mobile subscribers appropriate transition time, ensuring reasonable system maintenance. This is the premise for there to be no 2G system on the network by 2026, only 3G and 4G.

Non-standard 2G "brick" phones will be blocked from 1/3. 2G Only phones that are not on the list of certified phones announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications will not be allowed to join new networks.