As of today (October 15), the 2G network will stop operating in Vietnam (except for the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands, and the DK platform, which still uses 2G). Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications, affirmed that turning off 2G waves to develop 4G and 5G is inevitable.
In the era of technology and digital transformation, 4G network ensures service quality according to the increasing demands of users. Telecommunications operators continue to support 2G subscribers to make the transition in the coming days.
Efforts to achieve goals
Turning off 2G is an important step for Vietnam to realize the goal of the National Digital Transformation Program by 2025, with a vision to 2030, to popularize 4G, 5G mobile networks and smartphones to every citizen.
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Communications has proposed a roadmap to stop 2G technology in 2 phases: By the end of October 15, it will stop providing services for 2G-Only subscriber terminals; by September 2026, the entire 2G network will be stopped, reserving resources for 4G and 5G networks.
According to Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department Nguyen Phong Nha, after 30 years of operation, 2G technology has become outdated. Currently, many devices, networks, and 2G service quality have declined, consuming a lot of electricity and lacking stability, so replacing 2G technology is an inevitable development trend.
When using 4G technology, users have more opportunities to use smarter services, can participate in online public services, make online payments... access information as well as experience many other services and utilities on a high-speed internet platform.
Currently, 4G is the most basic and important network for mobile service businesses. 4G network ensures service quality according to the increasingly high demands of users. Aware of this, from very early on, telecommunications networks in Vietnam have been investing in 4G, 5G infrastructure and beyond.
After storm No. 3 ( Yagi ), network operators quickly overcame the consequences, repaired and upgraded transmission lines. Currently, most villages, hamlets, and remote areas have been covered by 4G.
Based on the telecommunications infrastructure and policies of the Ministry of Information and Communications, network operators and people's consensus, in the coming years, the quality of the 4G network will basically meet users' needs, creating conditions to accelerate the digital transformation process in Vietnam.
Continue customer care
According to the plan, subscribers who have not yet switched to 4G, starting from October 16, when making the first call of the day, will be able to receive a notification sound about needing to switch to 4G (depending on the service of each network operator).
To ensure the rights of users, the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications has requested telecommunications service providers to continue to have customer care policies to convert 2G subscribers to 4G devices after October 15.
Users have the choice of a smartphone or a 4G feature phone. Telecom operators have many programs to encourage switching to smartphones, exchanging 2G feature phones for similar 4G feature phones for free for those who do not want to switch to smartphones.
According to a representative of the Telecommunications Department, by January 2024, Vietnam had more than 18 million 2G subscribers. By the end of October 10, there were only nearly 700,000 2G subscribers left. This is a huge effort by telecommunications operators in Vietnam to maintain the quality of the 2G network while developing 4G and 5G networks.
Among the remaining 2G subscribers, Viettel has 360,000 subscribers, Vinaphone 150,000, MobiFone under 50,000 and Vietnam Mobile about 10,000...
To support users in converting from 2G to 4G, recently Viettel network has set up 10,000 device exchange points in communes nationwide and cooperated with retail chains (Viettel Store, Mobile World...) to provide incentive programs such as giving away 4G data when buying 4G devices in installments.
Viettel also offers a policy of 50-70% discount on 4G smartphones with prices starting from 890,000 VND or more. When users buy a 6 or 12 month long-term package, they will receive some 4G phones for free.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom Company (Viettel Telecom) said: With the efforts of Viettel staff, after 24 hours on October 15, it is expected that there will be only about 100,000 Viettel 2G subscribers left. These remaining subscribers are mostly in rural, mountainous, remote and most difficult areas. The target customers are usually the elderly and those who have little need to use the service.
Along with sending staff to directly help customers convert 2G devices to 4G depending on each person's conditions, Viettel will continuously invest in additional 4G and 5G broadcasting stations to ensure the quality of telecommunications services provided to people and businesses.
The biggest challenge for telecommunications networks is to provide a wide enough 4G coverage area, at least equivalent to 2G, to be able to turn off 2G. Viettel has been doing this for many years now.
Viettel's goal is to do its best to cover 4G equivalent to 2G, or better than 2G. After turning off 2G, Viettel continues to invest in 4G in remote areas where there may be small gaps, or where the signal is not as good as 2G. According to the plan, by the end of 2024, Viettel's 4G coverage will be equivalent to 2G.
In fact, the majority of 2G subscribers using mobile networks are in rural, mountainous, remote and island areas. Therefore, when network operators deploy the roadmap to turn off 2G waves, customers often do not know the information.
To reach these subscribers, not only calling directly, sending SMS messages to customers' 2G mobile devices, the Community Digital Technology Team, a combination of youth and employees of network operators, directly overcame difficulties to go to the place, directly propagandize and guide people to convert devices.
Mr. Do Manh Dung, Acting Director of the Personal Customer Department of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT), shared: In the process of implementing propaganda, mobilization and guiding customers to convert their devices from 2G to 4G, VNPT realized that many customers still prefer to use 4G push-button phones (feature phones).
Therefore, VNPT has prepared a number of 4G phones to carry out support activities for exchanging phones for many different customer files very early.
Vinaphone has provided free support for nearly 100,000 feature phones so that customers can continue to use telecommunications services. In the future, following the digital transformation orientation, Vinaphone will continue to promote and develop preferential policies so that people will continue to switch from push-button phones to smartphones, ensuring the correct orientation of the Ministry of Information and Communications on converting customers to the digital environment.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Deputy Head of MobiFone Telecommunications Services Department, said that after October 15, MobiFone will block 2G devices but still retain accounts and subscriptions for customers.
At the same time, the network operator will keep and add days, reserve so that customers have time to switch, install a new SIM on a new phone...
For customers who buy their own phones to switch from 2G-feature phones to 4G, MobiFone offers a free package. Subscribers who receive the 100% free phone program are required to register to use Mobifone's service for at least 12 months.
Thus, from 0:00 on October 16, telecommunications networks will lock 2-way calls of 2G subscribers. Customers can go to service providers to receive full instructions on how to convert 2G devices to 4G devices.
Telecommunications businesses affirm that they will ensure the best interests of consumers and users always have the right to choose smartphones or 4G feature phones, with preferential, reasonable programs and customer support./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dung-song-2g-nha-mang-vien-thong-tiep-tuc-ho-tro-chuyen-doi-4g-post983310.vnp
Comment (0)