After years of operation, 2G technology has become out of date and many countries have shut down 2G to reserve resources for new network technologies.

As of June, 37 countries had completely shut down 2G, including 25 countries in the Americas, 7 in Asia and 4 in Europe. Africa remains the only continent where no country has completed a shutdown.

In Vietnam, 2G cessation will be implemented in two phases. In phase 1, telecom carriers will stop serving subscribers using 2G-only phones in September 2024. In phase 2, the 2G system will stop operation completely by September 2026.

Nguyen Trong Tinh, deputy CEO of Viettel Telecom, the network with the highest number of subscribers, said the company has been facing difficulties shutting down 2G.

“We have contacted our clients who use 2G phones. Many have heard about the 2G shutdown, but they don’t support the policy, despite the promise from the telco to give financial support to upgrade their devices,” Tinh said.

It is estimated that 70 percent of Viettel subscribers live in rural and mountainous areas, and many are poor and cannot buy smartphones. 

Tinh said that though telcos have been disseminating the policy about 2G, there are still doubts. 

In many localities, Viettel has had to ask for help from local officials to persuade locals to shift to next-generation devices. The mobile network operators also set up mobile sale points in communes to help locals buy devices.

Bui Son Nam, deputy CEO of MobiFone, said the telco is ‘trying our best’ to support users. Those who have financial capability can replace their devices with smartphones, while those who cannot afford smartphones can shift to free 4G feature phones.

VNPT VinaPhone deputy CEO Le Dac Kien said many subscribers, such as fishermen, use feature phones to make voice calls and send SMS. 

To prepare for the 2G cessation program, the telecom carrier will give free 4G feature phones to subscribers who cannot afford smartphones.

Trong Dat