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Most of the customers using 2G Only are elderly people who do not need to access the internet. Photo: TK

Having just changed to a 4G-enabled phone for a week, Ms. Bui Thi Man, 62 years old, in Na Pon commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province, excitedly said: “When the network operator called, I didn't understand much, I only knew that 4G was probably better than 2G. But after they supported me to switch to a 4G phone for free and committed to using the package for 6 months, I was very happy and changed my phone right away. The new phone is lighter, the letters and numbers are bigger, and it's more convenient to call my children. Now I don't have to go to my neighbor's house to ask them to press the number like with my old phone, because my eyesight is poor and I can't see the numbers clearly."

Using a 2G “brick” phone for 10 years now, Ms. Ha Thi Pay, 69 years old, Thai ethnic group in Na Chieng hamlet, Mai Chau district said that she has been using her old phone for more than 10 years, because she only needs to make calls to her children, so she has no need to change to a smartphone. However, when the network operator called to advise her to change to a “brick” phone like her old one but supporting 4G according to the policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications, she agreed.

Ms. Kha Thi Khuan, 49 years old, Thai ethnic group, Na Chieng hamlet, Mai Chau district, when consulted by the network staff, she switched from a 2G phone to a 4G smartphone: "Previously, my phone only had the function of making and receiving calls, but now the network has changed to a new phone so I can call my children who are working far away and see their pictures, it's more fun, I like it better than the old phone".

Communication is the key to shutting down 2G

Sharing with VietNamNet about the shutdown of 2G waves in Hoa Binh province, Mr. Bui Duc Nam, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Hoa Binh province, said that, following the plan of the Ministry of Information and Communications, in Hoa Binh, network operators such as VNPT, Viettel... have also implemented many programs to promote the conversion to turn off 2G waves. Network operators have also begun to pilot the shutdown in some locations in Hoa Binh.

"To create consensus among the people, the Department of Information and Communications has also directed the grassroots broadcasting system to the commune level to coordinate with telecommunications enterprises to propagate the policy of turning off 2G waves according to the request of the Ministry of Information and Communications," said Mr. Bui Duc Nam.

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VNPT Hoa Binh has launched a program to give away phones to customers who commit to using the service. Photo: TK

Mr. Vo Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of VNPT Hoa Binh, said that in early 2024, VNPT Hoa Binh had about 9,900 2G Only subscribers. Most of the customers using 2G Only are the elderly, do not need to access the Internet, households with economic difficulties and some customers use 2G "brick" phones as secondary SIMs. In order to turn off 2G waves on schedule, communication work is very important. VNPT Hoa Binh has sent messages and called each of these subscribers to encourage customers to switch to 4G according to the policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

VNPT Hoa Binh has coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications to propagate to agencies and authorities to implement the policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications on turning off 2G waves. On that basis, the Department of Information and Communications has also deployed to localities and press agencies in the province to coordinate with VNPT Hoa Binh to communicate the shutdown of 2G waves. In addition to this communication system, VNPT Hoa Binh has also deployed communication through the commune radio channel to broadcast according to time frames for people, because there are many people who work in the fields until evening and they only access information through this radio system. Currently, VNPT Hoa Binh also has more than 1,000 points of sale, locations such as FPT Shop, Mobile World... widely deployed in Hoa Binh are also direct communication channels for customers about turning off 2G waves. VNPT Hoa Binh has worked with each commune leader and each hamlet to support communication to people to switch off 2G waves.

“To support customers in switching to 4G, VNPT Hoa Binh has implemented programs such as free data, free TV service, giving personal digital signatures to customers using public services, giving phones to customers who commit to using the service... VNPT Hoa Binh has built a package for only 49,000 VND/month, customers who register for this package will be supported with free 4G phones. Up to this point, more than 50% of customers using 2G Only devices have switched to 4G devices. Currently, Hoa Binh has about 3,000 2G Only subscribers. On peak days, VNPT Hoa Binh has converted nearly 100 customers from 2G to 4G,” said Mr. Tuan.

Worried about lack of 4G "brick" devices to provide to customers

Mr. Vo Minh Tuan said that the 2G shutdown is being strongly implemented, but is also facing obstacles because there are not enough 4G feature phones on the market to provide to customers. VNPT Hoa Binh also wants to buy these models to support customers to switch to 4G, but currently there are not enough devices for customers. Currently, VNPT Hoa Binh is also looking for many sources to be able to buy 4G feature phones to provide to customers. If there are enough 4G feature phones, VNPT Hoa Binh will ensure to transfer 100% of 2G Only customers to 4G by September 15, 2024, according to the roadmap set by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Continuing to share about the 2G wave shutdown, Mr. Vo Minh Tuan said that in addition to communicating the conversion of devices to 4G, VNPT Hoa Binh is also optimizing the coverage area, increasing the capacity of 3G and 4G stations and proceeding to turn off 2G waves in a rolling manner for each commune to speed up the shutdown process.

Continuing to share about the problem of the lack of 4G feature phones, Mr. Bui Duc Nam also said that the key to turning off 2G waves depends on whether the network operator supports customers to have 4G phones or not. However, the supply of 4G phones is currently scarce because all network operators have turned off 2G waves, pushing up demand. Mr. Nam affirmed that if the network operator solves this problem, turning off 2G waves in Hoa Binh province will be smooth and in accordance with the roadmap set by the Ministry of Information and Communications.