The "battle" to clean up the digital space.

With over 10.6 million subscribers having their service blocked, and strict regulations on biometric authentication when changing devices, regulators and network operators are sending a strong message: in the digital economy era, there is no place for "junk" SIMs and identity loopholes.

A large-scale "purge" of 10.6 million subscribers.

In accordance with Circular No. 08/2026/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology, as of June 15th, approximately 10.6 million subscribers of Viettel, VinaPhone, and MobiFone who had not completed the verification of their personal information via the VNeID application had their outgoing call services temporarily suspended.

Customers can visit a mobile network provider's store to get assistance in verifying their SIM card ownership. Photo: KIM THANH

Specifically, Viettel Telecom has blocked outgoing calls for over 5 million subscribers who have not completed the verification process. VinaPhone has also officially suspended outgoing calls for nearly 3 million customers. Meanwhile, MobiFone has recorded approximately 2.6 million subscribers subject to this action, while VinaPhone has 3 million subscribers.

The temporary suspension of outgoing call and SMS services is a mandatory measure to protect the information and assets of telecommunications users. Notably, among the more than 10.6 million subscribers whose outgoing calls are blocked, the majority are in remote areas. However, users should not be overly worried about being blocked, as the process is designed to provide customers with every opportunity to restore communication.

Subscribers whose lines were blocked from June 15th onwards will still be able to receive calls and messages. More importantly, customers still have plenty of time to verify their information. According to the plan, after 60 days from the date of the one-way blocking (expected August 15th, 2026), if verification is still not completed, the subscriber's line will be blocked in both directions. After 5 days from the date of the two-way blocking, if the customer still does not respond, the network provider will officially terminate the contract and reclaim the subscriber number as per regulations.

Ready to provide in-home support for the elderly.

For users who do not use smartphones when verifying their SIM card ownership via VNeID, mobile network operators have implemented various direct support methods to ensure customers can verify their subscriptions in accordance with Circular No. 08/2026/TT-BKHCN. Users can go directly to stores, supermarkets, or transaction points of mobile network operators nationwide to receive guidance from staff and complete the verification process in person.

For the elderly, those with weak health, or people with disabilities, mobile network operators provide free in-home support services. Viettel customers can call the hotline 18008098 (press 0) to provide their address, and staff will come to their location to provide assistance. VinaPhone customers can contact the customer service hotline 18001091 for guidance and answers to their questions. Mobile network operators recommend that users who do not use smartphones or have limited technological skills should proactively contact the hotline or go to the nearest support point to avoid communication disruptions.

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To continue supporting users, network operators have entered a "race" to provide support with the highest sense of responsibility. On June 15th, Viettel Telecom recorded a 40% increase in customer traffic to its service points and immediately proactively adjusted opening hours from 7 AM to 8 PM across the entire system. Furthermore, in industrial zones, Viettel stores committed to maintaining operations until the last customer leaves work. Viettel also maintains a network of 50,000 support points and a hotline number 18008098 (press 0) for staff to provide free home support to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Similarly, VinaPhone has deployed over 1,000 transaction points and 4,000 mobile verification points nationwide, with a particular focus on increasing personnel in remote and rural areas. A VinaPhone representative pledged to continue supporting customer verification through multiple channels such as the My VNPT application or the 18001091 hotline. MobiFone also recommended that customers make the most of online channels to check and update information in just a few minutes, helping to reduce the burden on physical transaction points.

The era of buying and selling SIM cards with fake information is over.

While the issue of handling unregistered subscribers is a current concern, regulations on biometric authentication when changing terminal devices are the solution to creating a safe, sustainable, and long-term digital environment.

VinaPhone staff (right) go to the village to verify the SIM card's ownership.

According to Circular No. 08/2026/TT-BKHCN, starting from June 15th, within a maximum of 2 hours of the system detecting that a subscriber's account is linked to a new device (phone) compared to the previously used device, the user must re-authentication. If not completed within this timeframe, the subscriber's outgoing service will be temporarily suspended. Users have 30 days to supplement their information before their service is blocked in both directions and their number is subsequently revoked.

Authentication is done through a direct photograph of the face and comparison with the national population database, identity card database, or legitimate biometric data at the network provider… This method is similar to the stringent standards of the banking industry, using biometrics instead of traditional passwords which are easily stolen.

This isn't about making things difficult for users, but rather about providing practical benefits, such as preventing SIM swapping – the most dangerous loophole when criminals obtain a SIM card to log into bank accounts or e-wallets. Facial authentication ensures that the person holding the SIM card is the legitimate owner. When each phone number is linked to a real person and authenticated via facial recognition, the rampant buying and selling of "junk" SIM cards using fake information will be stopped… In other words, biometric authentication on new devices contributes to eliminating "junk" SIM cards and pre-activated SIM cards. If a SIM card is stolen and inserted into another device, the system will automatically detect it and block outgoing calls within 2 hours, minimizing the risk of fraud… helping to protect mobile users when their device is lost.

“Circular No. 08/2026/TT-BKHCN requires authentication systems to meet high technical standards, capable of detecting sophisticated forgery attempts such as using printed photos, recorded videos, or 3D masks. This is an upgrade from ‘visual’ verification to true biometric technology verification, ensuring almost absolute accuracy…, which makes me feel more secure,” shared Mr. Tan Tuan (resident of An Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City) when re-authenticating his biometrics while replacing his device.

With over 10.6 million mobile subscribers having their services blocked, network operators are urging subscribers to quickly verify their biometric data in accordance with Circular No. 08/2026/TT-BKHCN. This is not only a major government policy but also an effective tool to "patch" loopholes in SIM management, contributing to building a transparent and secure digital society.

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Under what circumstances will a phone number be revoked?

Within a maximum of two hours of the network operator's system detecting a change in the subscriber's device compared to the one previously used, the telecommunications company will implement a review and temporarily suspend outgoing services (calls, SMS messages). The network operator will then send a notification requesting the user to re-verify their subscriber information. At this time, the user must verify their identity by providing a photograph of their face taken at that moment.

This process is not simply about "taking a photo and getting it over with," but rather a technical procedure to ensure that the person holding the SIM card is indeed the legitimate subscriber. The live facial image will be compared and verified against one of the following data sources: the National Population Database, the National Identity Card Database, or the National Immigration Database… If the user fails to complete the verification process after being blocked one-way, they will have 30 days to do so. After 30 days, if verification is still not completed, the service will be suspended in both directions. If the deadline is exceeded by several more days as stipulated by the network provider, the subscriber number may be completely revoked and the service contract terminated.

KIM THANH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cuoc-chien-lam-sach-khong-gian-so-post857728.html