Discussion 1.jpg
The Telecommunications Department coordinated with VietNamNet newspaper and the Information Center to organize a discussion "Turn off 2G waves before G-hour".

Previously, the Ministry of Information and Communications set a target of completing the discontinuation of 2G technology by September 15, 2024 at the latest. This is the expiration date of mobile telecommunications service business licenses and radio frequency band licenses, to be consistent with the orientation of radio frequency planning.

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" (Regarding the cessation of service provision 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 information needs during the necessary time, so that businesses and people can promptly overcome the damage caused by storm No. 3. This is a historic storm that has caused heavy damage to network operators and affected customer communications.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has also oriented users to proactively switch to using smartphones; mobile businesses to develop plans and support users to switch; mobile terminal equipment manufacturing and trading enterprises in the Vietnamese market to change their business orientation... to achieve the common goal of turning off old technology waves, while contributing to achieving the goal of popularizing smartphones and accelerating the national digital transformation process.

Today (October 11), the Telecommunications Department coordinated with VietNamNet newspaper and the Information Center to organize a discussion on "Turn off 2G waves before G hour" to exchange, discuss, propose and recommend on the implementation of stopping providing services for subscribers using 2G phones after October 15, 2024.

The seminar was attended by Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, representatives of network operators Viettel, VNPT VinaPhone, MobiFone , Vietnamobile, ASIM, VNSKY, and more than 50 reporters.

W-Symposium 3.jpg
Scene of the discussion. Photo: Du Lam

Turning off old technology such as 2G, 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 Only phone costs in combination with conversion packages, and supported up to 100% of 4G phone costs.

All carriers prepare a number of 4G phones to support compensation (100% cost support) for their 2G Only subscribers.

Some mobile companies have policies to support giving away phones without registering for a package for poor households, near-poor households, subscribers in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas to convert to 4G phones.

In addition to communicating on mass media, network operators promote direct communication to customers, while increasing communication frequency through various forms.

Up to this point, there are only about 700,000 2G Only subscribers left. This is a great effort by the Ministry of Information and Communications, localities and network operators to promote the process of turning off 2G waves.