According to the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications), from March 1, phones that only support 2G (or 2G Only) and are not on the list of certified devices will not be able to connect to new networks. Previously, from July 1, 2021, the management agency stopped granting import licenses for 2G Only phones to prepare for the 2G wave cutting roadmap. However, after that time, a representative of the Department of Telecommunications confirmed that there was still a situation of smuggling and hand-carrying 2G Only phones into Vietnam and these are devices that will not be allowed to connect to the telecommunications network from March 1.
2G Only phones that are currently operating and circulating on the market and legally imported into Vietnam before July 1, 2021 will still operate and join new networks normally. For example, users who need to register for a new mobile subscription when installing a SIM number to activate on a smuggled 2G Only device will not be able to access the network and will not be able to use mobile services. When this SIM is installed on another 2G Only device that is legally traded in Vietnam (imported before July 1, 2021), on the list of qualified devices of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the subscription will be activated and used normally.
2G Only phones will soon be unavailable in Vietnam.
However, users are advised not to buy new or continue to use "brick" phones that only support 2G technology from now on. Starting from September 2024, the network operator will cut off the signal for all 2G Only devices, so phones that only support this technology will no longer work, regardless of whether the product has a certificate of conformity.
From September 2024 to September 2026, the network operator will maintain 2G connections to serve customers using 3G and 4G phones but not yet integrated with VoLTE technology. Also during this period, the telecommunications company will stop developing new 2G subscribers. After September 2026, all 2G connections will be disconnected to encourage people to use 4G and 5G networks with the goal of popularizing smartphones to everyone.
Sharing at a telecommunications event in late 2023, Mr. Nguyen Duy Lam - a wireless network technology expert at Huawei, said that turning off old technology waves such as 2G and 3G is a common trend in the world. According to a report by the GSMA organization, as of mid-2023, 149 network operators in the world have been implementing plans to turn off old mobile wave technology, in which most advanced countries choose to turn off 2G. Even in Asia, many countries also cut off 2G very early, such as Japan (around 2010-2012), Singapore (2017). Two developed countries such as the US and Australia also turned off this network in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Shutting down 2G waves helps free up "golden frequency bands" to serve the upcoming 5G technology. The process of shutting down 2G waves is assessed to not cause too many negative impacts on users in Vietnam because the rate of subscribers to this technology on the network is still very low. In addition, the cost of switching devices is not too high.
Currently, 2G Only "brick" phones are mainly used by the elderly, low-income people or those who need to use them as a secondary phone in parallel with their smartphones. In the market, the cost to own a basic phone but integrated with 4G VoLTE is only over 300,000 VND to under 1 million VND (for new phones). Some models even cost less than 200,000 VND if bought used at large supermarkets. This amount is suitable for the spending of the general population.
In addition, the management agency, network operators, and dealer systems are also having their own policies to support people in switching devices. Specifically, a unit under the Ministry of Information and Communications will sponsor 400,000 basic phones with 4G support for priority users such as remote areas and those in particularly difficult circumstances. Network operators Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone are coordinating with partners such as retail systems and terminal manufacturers to bring basic phones with 4G support at low prices for people to replace old phones that will no longer be suitable from September 2024.
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