Removing 2G: Killing two birds with one stone.

The Telecommunications Department announced that after March 1st, 2G-only "feature phones" that have not been certified by the Ministry of Information and Communications will be blocked from connecting to the network (requiring new SIM cards). These blocked 2G-only phones are those circulating illegally on the market. 2G-only phones that are already connected to the network and meet the standards will continue to operate.

The regulation issued by the authorities serves two purposes. Not only is it a new step towards completely shutting down 2G networks in Vietnam, but it also helps block a source of electronic waste – low-quality, substandard mobile phones that are smuggled into Vietnam.

There have been numerous warnings about the potential harm caused by low-quality mobile phones, such as being used by malicious actors, serving as a "backdoor" for cybercriminals, or posing health risks to users. To address this issue effectively, authorities need to devise solutions to collect these "junk" phones and dispose of them according to proper environmental safety standards.

Legally, 2G and even 3G phones have long been banned in Vietnam. As early as 2020, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued Circular 43, stipulating that all mobile phones manufactured domestically or imported from July 2021 onwards must integrate 4G technology. According to experts, it's necessary to specifically define what constitutes a 4G smartphone, one that truly supports 4G for both calling and data processing.

Furthermore, the decision to shut down 2G must also consider the fact that many early 3G and 4G phone models in Vietnam still lack VoLTE calling capabilities, forcing users to make calls via 2G and 3G networks. Immediately shutting down 2G would also negatively impact these phones. Therefore, a "soft transition" phase is necessary alongside a firm stance against developing new 2G subscribers.

According to the roadmap, by September 2024, major network operators will have shut down 2G networks in many low-traffic areas. To date, Viettel has not only shut down 2G but has also begun the process of shutting down 3G. After a trial period in 2020, Viettel shut down 3G networks on a large scale in 2022 (with up to 35,000 BTS stations) to focus on developing 4G and 5G.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/mot-mui-ten-nham-2-dich-196240227204533642.htm