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From 0:00 on October 16, 2G Only subscribers will have their service stopped. Photo: TK

According to the roadmap set by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the goal is to complete the discontinuation of 2G technology by September 15, 2024 at the latest. However, on September 13, 2024, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung signed and issued a Circular on "Suspending the implementation of regulations on stopping the provision of services for subscriber terminals that only support GSM standards for a period of 1 month, from September 16, 2024 to October 15, 2024.

The reason the Ministry of Information and Communications temporarily suspended 2G waves according to Circular No. 10 is to ensure the information needs of businesses and people in the work of overcoming the damage of storm No. 3 - the storm that caused heavy damage to network operators, disrupting customer communications.

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, said that stopping 2G technology is divided into two phases: The first phase, after October 15, will stop providing 2G subscriber terminal services.

By September 2026, officially stop providing all 2G network to reserve resources for newer networks such as 4G, 5G.

Representatives of the three major network operators Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone confirmed that 2G subscribers who have not yet converted after October 15 will have their devices blocked but their subscription accounts will still be retained.

As of January 2024, carriers had about 18.2 million 2G Only subscribers, but as of now, there are only about 400,000 active 2G Only subscribers.

Thus, the number of 2G Only subscribers at the time of the shutdown accounted for less than 1% of the total number of subscribers, lower than the 5% figure previously given by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Thus, the conversion of subscribers from 2G to 4G was more successful than initially expected.

The carriers said that they have been trying to communicate to their unconverted customers through direct and indirect means. However, some difficulties have arisen during the implementation process.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel, shared that the remaining 2G Only subscribers do not have much demand for use, leading to difficulty in communication; others are in the most remote areas so employees have not been able to reach them.

Mr. Do Manh Dung, acting Director of VinaPhone's Personal Customer Department, pointed out other difficulties that this network operator faces, such as a number of users only changing their phones when they cannot use the service, or due to the impact of storms and floods, many areas are inaccessible and people focus on restoring their personal lives before paying attention to other activities.

Recently, network operators have supported the cost of 4G Only phones combined with conversion packages, and supported up to 100% of the cost of 4G phones.

All network operators prepare a number of 4G phones to support compensation (100% cost support) for their 2G Only subscribers.

Some mobile companies have a policy of giving away phones without having to register for a package for poor households, near-poor households, subscribers in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas to switch to 4G phones.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, after October 15, according to regulations, all 2G Only subscribers will have their two-way service stopped.

“After October 15, the responsibility of the business is to maintain the phone number, package, and policy regime with the old subscribers. Users can continue to go to service points or through the phone number to receive full instructions for the conversion. For subscribers whose service is stopped after October 15, the network operators will continue to have a customer care policy to convert these subscribers to 4G terminals, ensuring consumer rights,” said Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Deputy Head of MobiFone Telecommunications Services, said the network operator blocked the device but still retained the customer's account and subscription.

VinaPhone continues to maintain the policy of giving away and supporting devices; taking care of customers at service points or directly at home.

Meanwhile, Viettel proposed a special policy for the remaining 2G Only subscribers, which is not to have their accounts locked or their numbers revoked if they do not use the service for two months.

2G signal shutdown before G hour: Less than 1% of 2G Only subscribers will have their accounts retained for 2 months . Representatives of the three major networks including Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone confirmed that 2G subscribers who have not yet converted after October 15 will have their devices blocked but their subscription accounts will still be retained.