Convert 1 a.jpg
Viettel officials went to each hamlet and village to support people in switching to 4G before the 2G shutdown. Photo: Pham Hoa

Make every effort to ensure that no customer is left behind.

Turning off 2G is a major policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications , oriented since 2019 to promote 100% of people to use smartphones to access diverse digital services. This policy also helps free up bandwidth for old technology to switch to new technology, bringing higher efficiency; at the same time, promoting digital society, digital economy and digital government.

As the network operator with the largest market share in the country and the largest number of 2G subscribers, Viettel clearly understands its role and responsibility in supporting people to convert from 2G to 4G. Therefore, since 2 years ago, the company has proactively implemented a series of programs to accelerate this process with the goal of "leaving no one behind".

During the transition, telecommunications companies, including Viettel, have faced many challenges in reaching and convincing users. Because most of the customers who have not yet converted are people in remote areas where communication is limited. In addition to geographical barriers, many people still do not have the conditions to upgrade to 4G devices or are worried about being scammed.

Convert 2.jpg
At the time of acceleration, Viettel set up 12,000 conversion support points across the country. Photo: Pham Hoa

Understanding this, Viettel has made every effort to "go to war", proactively going to every alley, knocking on every door, calling every subscriber; at the same time, proactively coordinating with ministries, departments and local authorities to promote communication to explain the policy of turning off 2G waves as well as the benefits of mobile Internet. According to Viettel's representative, during the acceleration period, the enterprise has organized up to 12,000 support points for the transition to each village/hamlet, commune/ward, to create the most favorable conditions for people when accessing new technology.

“For the last customers who have not yet switched to 4G, convincing them to go to the transaction points is very difficult, because the majority of customers are elderly, do not have economic conditions or live in remote areas. To reach customers, Viettel has no other way but to use force, to go to the place where customers live to convert,” Viettel representative emphasized.

Promote communication, subsidies, and give free 4G devices to the poor

To ensure that support reaches the right people in need, Viettel Telecom has implemented many stages in the 2G to 4G conversion program. For customers with conditions, Viettel has implemented many large communication campaigns, through many information channels so that customers can grasp the major policies of the state, and soon convert to 4G.

The campaign “Upgrade to 4G, Upgrade” will be implemented nationwide from the end of 2023 to encourage people to switch early. 2G customers who successfully switch to 4G will be able to participate in a lucky draw program, with a total prize value of up to 4.3 billion VND including Honda Vision motorbikes, Samsung phones, and millions of GB of data and calling minutes.

Realizing that the cost of buying a 4G phone is one of the barriers that prevent customers from being enthusiastic about switching, Viettel Telecom has collaborated with major companies to provide many lines of cheap 4G smartphones, feature phones (low-function push-button phones that support 4G) and big-key phones with speakerphone feature when dialing numbers for the elderly and those who are not used to using touch-screen phones.

At the same time, Viettel Telecom accompanies customers in the process of "upgrading" to 4G through many attractive policies: 50% subsidy for some cheap 4G phone models, giving away suitable telecommunications service incentives (free calling minutes, data, TV360 service...). With the cost after subsidy only equal to cheap 2G phones sold on the market, anyone can "upgrade" to 4G without hesitation.

For customers in difficult circumstances, in the final stage in early September this year, Viettel has implemented a program to give away 4G devices in 1,700 disadvantaged communes including poor and near-poor households nationwide. After only 2 weeks of implementation, 100,000 customers were given devices to successfully upgrade to 4G, with a total cost of more than 40 billion VND.

Convert 3.jpg
Viettel staff went to people's homes to propagate and guide them to switch to 4G. Photo: Pham Hoa

Not stopping there, with the determination to "finish early" the conversion to 4G, Viettel decided to spend 300 billion VND to support the conversion of 4G phones for free for all customers using 2G phones, prioritizing the implementation for people in 10 mountainous provinces in the Northwest region including: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Ha Giang who are facing many difficulties due to the impact of storms, floods and natural disasters. It is estimated that about 700,000 customers benefit from this major program of Viettel Telecom, of which, the majority are poor people, in rural areas, remote areas, or are struggling to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, not having the conditions to convert to 4G.

Convert 4.png
Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disadvantaged customers have been given free 4G devices by Viettel. Photo: Pham Hoa

Up to now, Viettel Telecom is one of the most active enterprises in synchronously and drastically implementing many measures to convert a large number of 2G subscribers to 4G. The implementation is considered to demonstrate the highest responsibility to customers and to the country's major policy, demonstrating the philosophy of "leaving no one behind" and "technology from the heart" that Viettel has always pursued throughout its business and development process.

Hong Nhung