Delaying 2G shutdown to overcome consequences of storm No. 3

The Ministry of Information and Communications issued Circular No. 10/2024/TT-BTTTT on September 13, announcing "Suspension of the implementation of the provisions at Point a, Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 03/2024/TT-BTTTT and Point a, Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BTTTT" on stopping the provision of services for subscriber terminals that only support GSM standards for a period of 1 month (from September 16 to October 15).

According to Circular No. 10, the reason for the suspension is to ensure the need for information within the necessary time so that businesses and people can promptly overcome the damage caused by storm No. 3.

There are still more than 3 million 2G subscribers who have not yet converted.

On the afternoon of September 13, sharing at the regular September press conference of the Ministry of Information and Communications chaired by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam, Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, said that currently, mobile network operators have made every effort to convert 2G only subscribers.

As of September 8, network operators had about 3.4 million 2G only subscribers. Compared to July, in just over a month, the number of 2G only subscribers decreased by more than 5.3 million subscribers.

This is a very remarkable result, demonstrating the strong direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications and the seriousness of mobile businesses in implementing the plan to stop 2G technology according to Circular No. 03 and Circular No. 04 on frequency band planning.

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha said that currently, in the "sprint" phase, network operators have been implementing solutions to convert the remaining 2G only subscribers on the network.

Specifically, support the cost of 4G only phones combined with conversion packages, and support up to 100% of the cost of 4G push-button phones. All carriers prepare a number of 4G phones to support the cost of phones (100% of the cost) for their 2G only subscribers.

In addition to communicating on mass media, network operators promote direct communication to customers, while increasing communication frequency, through the following forms: calling, SMS messaging, call waiting notification, IVR broadcast with calls, call bots about business conversion support programs and instructions for customers to change devices.

Network operators carry out communication through the grassroots communication system (commune and ward loudspeakers) to provide information to each customer.

To effectively deploy to people in rural, remote and isolated areas, some mobile businesses also carry out conversion campaigns in all communes/wards, mobilizing all employees in the province/city to contact 2G customers at each subscriber's home.

Many 2G only subscribers are located in areas affected by storms and floods.

Overview of the regular press conference of the Ministry of Information and Communications on the afternoon of September 13.

Although state management agencies and enterprises have deployed widespread communication campaigns on mass media, and enterprises have communicated directly to customers, according to mobile enterprises, there are still a number of users who are reluctant to switch terminal devices, making it difficult for network operators to organize support for the conversion to ensure the rights of users.

For these subscribers, it is necessary to continue to strengthen direct communication to implement the conversion to 4G phones to ensure continued use of the service after September 16.

In addition, according to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, recently, Typhoon Yagi has made landfall in Vietnam, directly affecting many northern provinces. Typhoon Yagi has caused unprecedented consequences and heavy losses to the entire population, seriously damaging technical infrastructure works, including telecommunications works in many northern localities.

Landslides and floods after storms continue to rage, not only disrupting and greatly affecting people's lives but also causing difficulties in travel and traffic.

During this time, mobile businesses also devoted resources to overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and restoring telecommunications systems to ensure people's communication.

"In addition, among the 2G only subscribers who have not yet converted include vulnerable groups, subscribers from poor households, subscribers in hard-to-reach areas such as remote, mountainous areas and a relatively large proportion of 2G only subscribers in areas affected by storms and floods, making it difficult to contact and make direct contact with customers to make the conversion," said Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha.

On September 10, the Ministry of Information and Communications met with telecommunications businesses to understand the difficulties of businesses in implementing support for converting 2G only subscribers.

Based on the proposals of enterprises, the Ministry of Information and Communications is assessing and considering extending the implementation period of stopping the provision of services for 2G only subscribers according to the technology stopping roadmap in Circular No. 03, Circular No. 04 on the planning of frequency bands to have more time to both devote resources to overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and the flood situation after the storm, and support the conversion of 4G phones for 2G only subscribers, especially subscribers in remote areas and provinces and cities affected by storms and floods, to ensure communication for users.

Sharing at the regular press conference in September, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications Nguyen Phong Nha said that adjusting the time to turn off 2G waves will give network operators more time to both devote resources to overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and the flood situation after the storm, and support the conversion of 4G phones for 2G only subscribers, especially subscribers in remote areas and provinces and cities affected by the storm.

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha also said that even though 2G technology will be discontinued, the 2G network infrastructure will continue to broadcast for the next 2 years to maintain IoT services; for 4G subscribers who do not yet have the Voice Over LTE feature...

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lui-thoi-diem-tat-song-2g-them-1-thang-de-khac-phuc-hau-qua-bao-so-3-post830804.html