DNVN - From September 16, telecommunications companies will turn off the signal and stop providing services to 2G subscribers. To support people in this major policy, the Ministry of Information and Communications has also directed telecommunications companies to each subscriber, providing solutions to support terminal devices and packages for users...
Telecom companies are ready to turn off 2G waves
Sharing at the discussion "What do people need to prepare when turning off 2G?" organized by VietNamNet newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications) on July 18, Mr. Vo Dang Thien, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet newspaper emphasized that turning off old technology such as 2G, 3G is a common trend in the world . 2G technology has been over 30 years and is now outdated technology. 4G, 5G and upcoming 6G technology are the next developments of mobile networks, providing optimal options such as fast speed, large capacity and higher operating efficiency.
According to GSMA statistics, by June 2024, 149 network operators have been and are deploying the shutdown of old technology. The vast majority of countries that have turned off 2G are developed countries, with 63% in Europe and more than 20% in Asia. Many countries have turned off 2G for a long time, such as the US, Singapore since 2017 and Australia in 2018.
"Switching off 2G waves brings many benefits to people and businesses, while promoting digital society, digital economy and digital government," said Mr. Thien.
According to information shared at the seminar, telecommunications businesses are currently actively responding to this policy, and at the same time, proposing many specific measures to push 2G subscribers to 3G and 4G before the deadline of September 16.
Experts and representatives of telecommunications businesses discussed at the seminar.
Mr. Le Dac Kien, Deputy General Director of VNPT VinaPhone, said that VinaPhone had prepared a roadmap for this early on and the Ministry of Information and Communications' 2G shutdown policy would help the network operator speed up the implementation of this roadmap.
Currently, VinaPhone's system still has about 1.5 million 2G subscribers and this network operator has committed to converting all of these customers to 3G and 4G subscribers by September 2024. To prepare for the conversion, in terms of network infrastructure, VinaPhone has increased 4G coverage to replace 2G coverage and proactively purchased low-cost smartphone terminals, 3G and 4G feature phones to support the conversion for users.
According to Mr. Bui Son Nam, Deputy General Director of MobiFone, the rate of 2G users of MobiFone is only about less than 5% of total subscribers. Currently, the company is also actively giving recommendations on switching devices to users, offering many solutions to support customers to switch to 4G smartphones and feature phones such as supporting packages and accompanying device retail chains.
Representing the telecommunications company with the largest market share today, Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom, shared that Viettel has a large number of 2G subscribers. In the first 6 months of 2024, Viettel converted more than 2 million 2G subscribers to higher technologies, much more than in previous years.
"Thanks to the coordination with the Departments of Information and Communications nationwide, together with the joint efforts of district, commune and village authorities, press agencies and the efforts of businesses, the number of subscribers switching has increased dramatically," said Mr. Tinh. At the same time, Viettel also introduced incentive policies such as 30-50% price reductions, extensive communication to users through many forms, and organizing mobile sales to the commune level with 24/7 switching support points.
At the seminar, telecommunications businesses all expressed their desire to have the support of state management agencies in communicating policies and supporting users with equipment conversion costs to reduce some of the burden, thereby helping network operators to complete the goal of turning off 2G waves.
From a few hundred thousand dong, you can have a phone that supports 4G
Also sharing at the discussion, Mr. Truong Minh Hoang, Director of Service Business Development of Mobile World, said that before this major policy, he had proactively contacted the companies, accompanied the network operators to support free data SIM products for customers to switch in the future.
Customers will have two main trends, a group of 2G "brick" phones will switch to 4G, a group will switch to smartphones. The Gioi Di Dong is having a specific campaign for customers to bring their phones to the store. At the same time, it is proactively contacting phone manufacturers to support customers with phone lines from 390,000 VND - 1.5 million VND. The system also has a preferential program, supporting customers to switch, changing SIM for free, giving away more data.
"For new smartphone customers, they often use phones priced at 1.9-5 million VND. We will support free SIM or data, along with an installment payment policy, even without prepayment," Mr. Hoang emphasized.
Mr. Hoang Ngoc Minh, Sales Director of Di Dong Viet shared: Di Dong Viet has 3 groups of customers, most of whom will switch from old 2G phones to low-end smartphones of 4-5 million VND such as Oppo, Xiaomi, the second group - some people who are used to using push-button phones will switch to similar 4G phones, another group is business people who previously used Vertu 2G to genuine Vertu 4G distributed in Vietnam.
According to Mr. Vu Thanh Trung, Product Director of Oppo Vietnam, turning off 2G waves is inevitable to make room for other technologies and the company has supported this for a long time.
Oppo has prepared smartphone models under 5 million VND, focusing on the factors that users need, such as beautiful design, large battery, fast charging and high durability. This is considered the golden segment and Oppo has launched many smartphone models with many different configurations and designs with prices ranging from 2-4 million VND. This helps users to easily spend on a new phone model and users who are familiar with feature phones can also switch to smartphones more quickly.
Nguyen Duc
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/cac-doanh-nghiep-vien-thong-da-san-sang-tat-song-2g-tu-ngay-16-9/20240718034246520
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