Turn off 2G before G hour

Many cheap 4G phones with many attractive promotions have been put on the shelves to serve customers. Photo: Thai Nhung.

Inevitable trend

According to the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications), currently, 77 countries are planning to stop 2G and 3G technology, most of which will stop by 2028. As of June 2024, about 37 countries have completely turned off the 2G network. In Vietnam, the policy of stopping 2G technology has been agreed upon and stated in the circular on planning the 900MHz band.

Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha - Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications said that stopping 2G technology is inevitable, this brings many benefits to people, society and businesses.

Specifically: Users have the opportunity to access many new services, including online public administrative services, cashless payments, access to information through applications when accessing the internet; reduce operating costs for businesses; focus on improving the quality and coverage of 4G networks, investing in developing 5G technology, increasing revenue for telecommunications businesses, supporting new technologies; contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, gradually deploying mobile networks using energy-saving technology...

To implement the roadmap to stop 2G technology, the Ministry of Information and Communications has requested mobile network operators to deploy 4G network infrastructure to ensure coverage to replace switched-off 2G radio transceiver stations in all areas; especially remote areas, borders, islands and to best support users.

As a state management agency, the Ministry of Information and Communications is and will continue to require businesses to implement solutions to protect users' rights such as: Communicating to each subscriber; having solutions to support terminal devices for users, especially vulnerable users such as the elderly, low-income people, people in remote, border and island areas to switch to using 4G technology phones or higher, deploying user support through the Public Telecommunications Fund...

Focus on promoting and supporting users

Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien - Deputy Director of the Department of Grassroots Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) said: According to statistics, there are currently about 220,000 grassroots propagandists nationwide. This is the force that helps to quickly and effectively convey information directly to the people. This force will also be mobilized to communicate the policy of turning off the old 2G technology.

The representative of the Grassroots Information Department added that this unit will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to promote the implementation of other types of information and propaganda to bring information to the people.

In addition, people using 2G only phones need to be proactive or access support programs from mobile companies, and switch to 4G phones to ensure continued use of mobile services.

Currently, according to the detailed plan to implement the roadmap to stop 2G technology reported by mobile businesses, it is expected that the number of 2G only subscribers by September 15, 2024 will either decrease to 0 or remain at a small number of less than 5%. Telecommunication businesses such as Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone... have been planning to support and convert mobile devices with only 2G waves to 4G with many different forms of incentives.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh - Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom said: Viettel has introduced support policies such as reducing the price of the device from 30-50%. Organizing extensive communication through community digital technology groups, prestigious people in the community, organizing mobile sales to the commune level, organizing 24/7 conversion support points. During the process, there were many difficulties. We have contacted this customer group many times, many people know the information but do not support, 70% are in rural and mountainous areas, difficult subjects, many poor households, unable to pay, so it is also difficult to convert...

It is expected that by September 15, Viettel will basically complete the goal of converting customers to 4G, 100% of customers will be guaranteed to maintain contact and many customers will experience digital utilities. This network also issued a warning, taking advantage of the fact that network operators are supporting people to convert from 2G to 4G subscribers, some bad guys have scammed people, especially ethnic minorities and the elderly who are not familiar with technology, to sell fake 4G devices (the screen displays 4G signal bars but is actually a 2G device).

Therefore, to help people distinguish between real and fake 4G phones, people should only follow the network operator's instructions or buy phones at reputable retail stores.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tat-song-2g-truoc-gio-g-10290177.html