Mobilizing 220,000 grassroots propagandists to participate in communication about stopping 2G

Focus on popularizing 2G shutdown through 3 basic communication channels

According to the roadmap announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications , the 2G mobile technology system will stop serving subscribers using phones that only use 2G technology - 2G Only from September 16, 2024. The 2G system will stop operating from September 15, 2026.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is well aware of the importance of communication work for those affected by the policy of stopping 2G technology, especially those using 2G Only phones. According to the analysis of the Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Information and Communications), when provided with full information and clearly understanding the meaning of the conversion from 2G to 4G, users will agree and no longer hesitate when making the conversion.

The Department of Telecommunications was assigned by the leaders of the Ministry of Information and Communications to coordinate with the Department of Press, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information to develop communication content on public media so that users, organizations and individuals concerned can grasp information about the policy and plan to stop 2G technology, proactively convert terminal equipment. The Department of Telecommunications is also responsible for coordinating with the Department of Grassroots Information to propose communication organization about turning off 2G waves to people in remote areas.

Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Basic Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) shared with the people about the communication plan, policy, and roadmap to stop 2G mobile technology. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Speaking at the seminar on the topic 'What do people need to prepare when 2G is turned off?' organized by VietNamNet newspaper and the Department of Telecommunications on July 18, Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Grassroots Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) said that, in order to carry out the propaganda task to serve the policy of stopping 2G technology, the Department of Grassroots Information has consulted the leaders of the Ministry of Information and Communications to have a good plan to directly communicate to the people.

According to the plan, in July 2024, the Department of Grassroots Information will coordinate with grassroots information forces in localities to organize propaganda and dissemination on district-level radio systems, commune-level radio stations and other media in the area.

Specifically, the Department of Grassroots Information will send propaganda documents on shutting down 2G waves to district-level radio systems, commune-level radio stations, and grassroots propaganda forces.

“According to statistics, there are currently about 220,000 grassroots propagandists nationwide. This is the force that helps to quickly and effectively convey information directly to the people. This force will also be mobilized to communicate the policy of turning off the old 2G technology waves ,” said Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien.

The grassroots broadcasting system, grassroots propaganda force and the grassroots information Zalo OA network are the three channels that will focus on propagating the cessation of 2G technology. Illustration photo: Ca Mau Department of Information and Communications

Also according to Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, in addition to the two communication channels through the grassroots radio system and grassroots propagandists, in July, the Grassroots Information Department will also focus on propagating the roadmap and the necessity of stopping 2G technology, through the Zalo OA grassroots information network.

The Zalo OA grassroots information network is being built. Currently, more than 4,000 accounts have been established. The goal set by the Department of Grassroots Information in developing this network is to complete the establishment of Zalo OA accounts in 100% of communes, wards and towns nationwide by 2024.

“Zalo OA is also a grassroots information channel that brings information directly to the people. This is also a very effective communication method in promoting the shutdown of 2G waves,” Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien emphasized.

In addition, the representative of the Department of Grassroots Information added that in the coming time, this unit will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to promote the implementation of other types of information and propaganda to bring information to the people, contributing practically to the successful implementation of the policy of stopping the old 2G technology.

Many localities have launched propaganda campaigns to promote the roadmap to stop 2G technology.

Regarding communication work on stopping 2G mobile technology, at present, many localities across the country are implementing programs to provide information to local people about the policy and plan to stop 2G technology and convert 2G phones to 4G phones.

Speaking to VietNamNet reporter , Mr. Bui Hoang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Thua Thien Hue province, said that information related to the policy of stopping 2G mobile technology is a content that this agency is focusing on propagating to people through many channels, mainly through the Hue-S smart urban application.

Specifically, from mid-April until now, on the Hue-S application, the Center for Monitoring and Operation of Smart Cities of Thua Thien Hue province has continuously updated people in the province with information about things to know about turning off 2G waves, recommended people not to buy phones that only support 2G technology, and provided support from network operators for people to switch from using 2G phones to 4G...

The Hue-S application is considered by the Department of Information and Communications of Thua Thien Hue province as the main propaganda channel about the policy of stopping 2G technology to people across the province. Photo: V.Sy

Regarding Hanoi, according to Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Tien Sy, at the beginning of this year, the whole city had about 8,700 poor and near-poor households that did not have 4G-enabled phones. Therefore, since March 2024, the city's Department of Information and Communications has requested localities and telecommunications enterprises in the area to disseminate the orientation and roadmap for stopping 2G technology; at the same time, there is a plan so that no one's communication is interrupted after the 2G signal is turned off.

Most recently, on July 9, the Department of Information and Communications of Hanoi City requested the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to direct the Department of Culture and Information, the Center for Culture - Information and Sports, and the grassroots information system in the capital to continue to strengthen the dissemination of regulations related to the roadmap to stop 2G technology and popularize smartphones.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Sy also said that for mobile telecommunications enterprises in Hanoi, in addition to the task of coordinating to review signal dips, proposing to develop a plan to develop mobile transceiver stations to ensure 4G network coverage to replace 2G network when stopping the 2G system, the Department of Information and Communications also requires network operators to actively participate in propagating the roadmap to stop 2G technology, creating consensus among people in implementing the policy of stopping old mobile technology of the Prime Minister and the Information and Communications industry.