Millions of subscribers supported when turning off 2G network
Vietnam has chosen the option to turn off 2G network to promote the implementation of the goal in the National Digital Transformation Program by 2025, aiming to 2030 as approved by the Prime Minister to popularize 4G/5G mobile networks and smartphones to every Vietnamese citizen.
Therefore, Vietnam will turn off 2G network starting from September 2024, phones that only support 2G will not be able to use the network.
To meet the requirements of the management agency regarding the cessation of 2G network, VNPT stated that the company has prepared the deployment plan and optimal transition support solution for users to apply to the VinaPhone network.
Turning off 2G network will affect subscribers using devices, 2G phones on all networks.
In the past 2 years, network operators have proactively turned off individual stations that generate little or no traffic. The enterprise has combined both technical activities and subscriber communications in the area, and has turned off about 10% of 2G stations. VNPT has developed plans and solutions to commit to converting all subscriptions, devices that only support 2G network according to the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
In order to ensure seamless service and communication, VinaPhone advises customers to promptly check information about 2G devices used and convert, upgrade to 3G/4G/5G phones. Encourage and support customers to the maximum when converting 2G mobile phones, to meet the 2G turnoff roadmap of the Ministry of Information and Communications, VinaPhone offers an immediate preferential policy of 30GB high-speed free Data (for customers receiving preferential messages). The program applies from January 9, 2024 to September 15, 2024.
Viettel said that the company has launched many lines of cheap feature phones and 4G smartphones accompanied by a discount policy of up to 50% for some cheap 4G phone models with call functions (only from 290,000 VND/phone).
Mr. Le Mai Son – Deputy Head of the MobiFone Communication Department, currently the network provider still has about 3 million 2G subscriptions. Mr. Son said that MobiFone turned off 2G network in areas with low traffic. Before turning off, this network provider had a plan to assess the impact on people, and the deployment was carried out according to specific roadmap.
Sharing more, a representative of MobiFone said that during the deployment of turning off 2G network, the unit sent messages, made calls, sent local staff to take care of, to avoid users turning on their phones and knowing that there is no network. When customers have demands, MobiFone will support users in switching from 2G to 4G SIM card for free.
MobiFone also offers customers to switch from 2G feature phones to 4G feature phones or smartphones with a machine price support of up to 50% of machine value (maximum 1 million VND).
According to a recent survey on Reddit about turning off 2G network, there are 105 countries in the world planning to turn off 2G network in the near future, 129 countries have not deployed it, 102 countries have successfully implemented it and are promoting other mobile networks.
In 2010, Japan was the first country to put an end to 2G network. Then, in 2011, KT Corp network of South Korea also turned off 2G network and SK Telecom only applied it from July 2023.
In the US, AT&T network stopped service on 2G network in 2017, while Verizon closed 2G network around 2020. T-Mobile said it will turn off GSM 2G network on April 2, 2024…
The three largest operators in China, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, are also in the process of turning off 2G and 3G networks and switching customers to 4G or 5G networks.
In Vietnam, 2G network has been applied since 1993, it is one of the “leading” countries in applying new technology at a time when analog networks are still popular.
In early 2023, according to statistics from network providers, Vietnam has more than 26 million 2G mobile subscriptions, accounting for 20% of the country’s total 126 million mobile subscriptions. By August 2023, there were about 23 million 2G mobile subscriptions remaining.
Recently, the Telecommunications Department (Ministry of Information and Communications) said that mobile networks in Vietnam have committed to blocking only 2G devices from connecting to mobile networks starting from December 2023. This also means that these devices will become “bricks”, without waiting until September 2024.
Blocking non-standard 2G mobile phones
Also in the general roadmap, on February 23, 2024, the Telecommunications Department (Ministry of Information and Communications) issued a notice on the implementation of a solution to block non-certified 2G mobile phones from connecting to mobile networks in Vietnam.
This is considered the latest move to implement the policies and directions of stopping 2G mobile technology, promoting the Digital Economy and the Digital Society that have been issued in the recent time.
The announcement from the Telecommunications Department has requested that from March 1, 2024, mobile enterprises do not allow newly imported mobile phones that only support 2G technology not included in the List of 2G mobile phones certified by the Ministry of Information and Communications (Telecommunication Department) to connect to mobile networks.
2G product lines can be checked at the address: https://tqc.gov.vn/2g-only.
As for compliant and operating devices, they can continue to be used until September, before Vietnam shuts down 2G network.
