Speaking at a seminar on the 2G blockage held on Thursday by the Telecommunications Authority under the Ministry of Information and Communications, deputy director of the authority Nguyen Phong Nha said the number of 2G-only subscribers has fallen sharply in recent days but still remains “relatively high” at about 11 million.
When the 2G blockade goes into effect on September 15, these subscribers risk losing access unless they upgrade their devices.
Most of these mobile users have upgraded to SIMs that support 3G and 4G. The remaining issue is the device, and the relevant authorities and network operators need to implement measures to inform and support users as they switch devices.
Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications at the Ministry of Information and Communications, speaking at a seminar on July 18, 2024. Photo: VnExpress/Anh Dung
One of the reasons why 2G subscriber numbers remain high is the cost barrier people face when purchasing new devices. For residents in remote and isolated areas, just paying hundreds of thousands of VND (VND100,000 = US$3.95) for a new device is a big problem.
Moreover, despite a ban on the import of 2G devices into Vietnam from 2021 onwards, many such products are still circulating in the market.
Since March, network operators have been instructed to prevent these devices from accessing their networks, and their numbers have dropped significantly. However, Nha said stores still have them in stock, and prices may be reduced in the coming months to clear out inventory and recoup investment. Consumers who buy these devices will not only lose money, but they will also be unable to use them after September 15.
“Network operators already have solutions, but they cannot provide 100% support,” Nha said. “For people who are in difficult situations or who come from poor families, the Ministry of Information and Communications has worked with provinces and cities to use statutory funds and sponsorships to partner with network operators and provide support. Some provinces have already done this.”
The seminar also reported that retail systems such as Mobile World, Di Dong Viet and handset maker Oppo, as well as network operators VNPT, Viettel and MobiFone, are also implementing policies to help users upgrade their devices, such as importing more affordable 4G products and offering subsidies of up to 50 percent on some products to help users upgrade.
Elderly people in the central coastal city of Da Nang are becoming accustomed to using smartphones. Photo: VnExpress/Nguyen Dong
Viettel Telecom, the operator with the most subscribers and the most 2G-only subscribers, reported that it had helped more than two million subscribers switch to 4G through subsidies and sales to municipalities across Vietnam in the first half of the year.
However, with a large customer base in rural and mountainous areas, there are still 5-6 million subscribers who need to switch, creating challenges in terms of equipment supply capacity in the market.
“We suggest our suppliers to increase production,” said Nguyen Trong Thinh, vice president of Viettel Telecom. “This is a determining factor for whether the transition to 2G will be successful. We hope the supply chain for end devices will ensure there is enough volume to support users.”
Around the world, around 40 countries have completely shut down 2G, with the rest aiming to do so by 2028-2030. Vietnam will shut down its 2G technology this year, leaving a portion only to support non-VoLTE devices, before shutting down its network completely in 2026 and shutting down its 3G technology in 2028.
Shutting down 2G technology will allow operators to utilize their networks more efficiently, reducing costs and increasing efficiency in spectrum usage, station resources and power, allowing them to focus resources on advanced technologies such as 5G.
