The number of 2G subscribers is now very small.

Last September was a difficult period for network operators as they had to restore infrastructure affected by floods, while ensuring service quality and supporting communications for authorities at all levels to direct and operate flood and storm prevention work.

At the same time, network operators still have to carry out activities to support customers to change to 2G devices. However, despite the difficulties, the number of subscribers using only 2G services (2G Only) is decreasing rapidly.

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Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom (blue shirt).

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom, as of October 10, there are only 360,000 2G Only subscribers left on Viettel's network.

It is expected that by October 15, Viettel will have less than 100,000 2G subscribers, including 2G subscribers in the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos and DK1 platform.

On the side of VNPT VinaPhone network, Mr. Do Manh Dung, Acting Director of Personal Customer Department said that as of the morning of October 11, on the entire VNPT VinaPhone network, there were only about 150,000 2G Only subscribers left.

“ It is expected that in the next 4 days, we will continue to mobilize staff nationwide to support customers in converting devices, and arrange direct personnel in remote areas. The goal is that by October 15, MobiFone will have less than 100,000 2G subscribers ,” said a VinaPhone representative.

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2G Only brick phones will no longer be available in Vietnam after October 15. Photo: NVCC

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Deputy Head of MobiFone Telecommunications Services, as of October 11, MobiFone currently has 47,919 2G Only subscribers, a very small number. If calculated based on the criteria of subscribers who have not used 2G devices for 30 days and have an ARPU of less than VND5,000, this number drops to only about 20,000 subscribers.

To achieve this result, MobiFone has implemented many programs and activities, including supporting phone exchange and giving away 4G Feature Phones to customers.

Since the beginning of September, 20,000 MobiFone 2G Only subscribers have been given new phones, of which 7,000 people have been given phones at 100% of their value.

“ With this progress, after another week, the number of MobiFone 2G Only users will only be about 10,000 subscribers ,” MobiFone representative predicted.

As for Vietnamobile, as of October 11, this unit currently has about 17,000 2G subscribers. According to Mr. Dang Dinh Tung, representative of Vietnamobile, the network has taken all communication measures, including sending continuous messages to 2G subscribers to ensure users are informed, reducing the number of 2G subscribers to the lowest level.

Virtual network operators also actively "turn off 2G waves"

Being born later and not directly owning telecommunications infrastructure, virtual network operators (MVNOs) are not too affected by the 2G shutdown policy because the number of 2G Only subscribers is very small. However, virtual network operators are actively implementing the 2G shutdown policy.

Sharing with VietNamNet, a VNSKY representative said that due to the nature of the product, which is mainly a data service package, the number of VNSKY 2G users is very small, currently only a few thousand subscribers.

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People go to the network operator to exchange their old 2G phones for 4G phones. Photo: Viettel

Responding to the policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications, VNSKY has continuously communicated about turning off 2G waves, linking with retail chains so that users who need to switch devices can go there to do it.

Similar to VNSKY, both Mobicast and Dong Duong Telecom said that the number of 2G Only subscribers of these networks is insignificant.

According to the latest figures, Mobicast only has 423 2G Only subscribers, while Dong Duong Telecom has about 1,298 2G subscribers.

According to Mr. Quach Manh Lam, ASIM's External Relations Director, due to the nature of a virtual network, ASIM subscribers were provided with 4G SIMs from the beginning, so users did not encounter any difficulties when switching to 4G services.

ASIM has communicated to all customers using 2G devices via direct calls and text messages twice a week.

Thanks to that, by the end of September, this network only had nearly 5,000 subscribers using feature phones.

Discussion: Turn off 2G waves before G-hour The Department of Telecommunications coordinated with VietNamNet newspaper and the Information Center to organize the discussion 'Turn off 2G waves before G-hour' to exchange, discuss, propose and recommend on the implementation of stopping providing services for 2G Only subscribers after October 15, 2024.