The Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications (TTTT) said that from 0:00 on October 16, network operators will stop providing services to 2G Only subscribers.
The reason the Ministry of Information and Communications temporarily suspended 2G waves is to ensure the information needs of businesses and people in the work of overcoming the damage caused by storm No. 3 - the storm that caused heavy damage to network operators, disrupting customer communications.
Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha - Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department - said that stopping 2G technology is divided into two phases: The first phase from October 15th will stop providing 2G subscriber terminal services.
Phase two until September 2026, officially stop providing all 2G network to reserve resources for newer networks such as 4G, 5G.
Representatives of the three major network operators Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone confirmed that 2G subscribers who have not yet converted will have their devices blocked after October 15 but their subscription accounts will still be retained.
As of January 2024, carriers had about 18.2 million 2G Only subscribers, but as of now, there are only about 400,000 active 2G Only subscribers.
Thus, the number of 2G Only subscribers at the time of the shutdown accounted for less than 1% of the total number of subscribers, lower than the 5% figure previously announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Thus, the conversion of subscribers from 2G to 4G was more successful than initially expected.
“After October 15, the business's responsibility is to maintain the phone number, package, and policy with the old subscriber. Users can continue to go to service providers or call the phone number to receive full instructions for the conversion.
For subscribers whose services have been suspended after October 15, network operators will continue to have customer care policies to convert these subscribers to 4G terminals, ensuring consumer rights," said Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung - Deputy Head of MobiFone Telecommunications Services Department - said that the network operator blocked the device but still retained the account and subscription for the customer.
VinaPhone continues to maintain the policy of giving away and supporting devices; taking care of customers at service points or directly at home.
Meanwhile, Viettel proposed a special policy for the remaining 2G Only subscribers, which is not to have their accounts locked or their numbers revoked if they do not use the service for two months.
