Previously, the Ministry of Information and Communications set a target of completing 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 Circular No. 10/2024/TT-BTTTT on "Suspension of the implementation of the provisions at Point a, Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 03/2024/TT-BTTTT and Point a, Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BTTTT" (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.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications at the seminar "Turn off 2G before G hour" organized by the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications) in coordination with VietNamNet newspaper and the Information Center on October 11, the process of stopping 2G technology is divided into two phases: Phase 1 from October 15, stopping the provision of 2G subscriber terminal services. By September 2026, officially stopping all 2G network provision to reserve resources for newer networks such as 4G, 5G.

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Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, spoke at the seminar. Photo: Thach Thao

“2G technology has been used for 30 years, many network devices have degraded quality, consume a lot of electricity, and are unstable, so replacement is inevitable when new technology is ready. This is the consensus and practical requirement of production and business,” said Mr. Nha.

The representative of the Telecommunications Department also informed that the majority of subscribers on the current network are 4G, deployed by network operators since 2016. Up to now, it is estimated that there are more than 700 thousand 2G subscribers. From October 15, 2024, according to regulations, the provision of two-way incoming and outgoing call services to these subscribers will have to be stopped.

However, Mr. Nha suggested that network operators continue to implement customer care policies to support customers in switching subscribers, ensuring consumer rights.

Turning off old technologies such as 2G and 3G is a common trend in the world. Currently, in the "sprint" phase, network operators have been implementing solutions to convert the remaining 2G Only subscribers on the network to move towards the goal of turning off 2G waves on October 15, 2024.

Recently, network operators have supported 4G phone costs in combination with conversion packages, and supported up to 100% of 4G phone costs.

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 convert to 4G phones.

2G subscribers have their accounts "reserved"

According to official statistics, in January 2024, the country had more than 18.2 million 2G subscribers. To date, the number of 2G Only subscribers has decreased to 720 thousand subscribers. A representative of the Telecommunications Department commented that this is a huge effort when we have to reduce the number of 2G subscribers, while maintaining network quality, developing the 5G network and maintaining production and business.

Also at the "Turn off 2G before G hour" seminar, representatives of three major networks including Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone affirmed that 2G subscribers who have not yet converted after October 15 will have their devices blocked but their subscription accounts will still be retained.

Mr. Do Manh Dung, Acting Director of VNPT VinaPhone Personal Customer Service Department, said that this network continues to maintain the policy of giving away and supporting devices to customers, continuing to support customers at VinaPhone locations, as well as directly at home for customers to use services such as: SIM exchange, user instructions, preferential policies in the initial period when switching from 2G to 4G devices such as experiencing data to access the network.

Meanwhile, the “reservation” period for Viettel subscribers is 2 months. If customers do not use the service within 2 months, the network will lock the account and withdraw the number to the warehouse. However, Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom, said that he will propose a “special” policy for the remaining 2G subscribers to support the conversion.

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.