What will happen to 11 million "brick" phone users when 2G signal is turned off?
Market news
30/08/2024
From September 16, 2024, telecommunications carriers will stop providing services to terminals that only support the GSM standard (2G waves). If only 2G network technology is supported, mobile models will no longer be usable after September 16.
(Illustrative photo)
There are still 11 million 2G subscribers before the shutdown
Since the end of 2023, network operators have taken the first steps to shut down 2G. However, up to now, statistics from the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) show that the entire market still has about 11 million 2G subscribers, meaning users only use 2G phones as terminal devices. This number is quite large when there are only about 2 months left until the time to stop providing 2G services to users.
According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications, stopping all these terminal devices within 2 months is a huge pressure. To achieve the goal, the most important thing is to fully inform users and accompany businesses.
Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Information and Communications
“In remote, border and island areas, these are areas where users do not have full access to information. Switching to phone models, even with just 4G buttons, is more difficult for this group of people than for people in urban and delta areas. Communication work to users here needs to be carried out more strongly from now until September 15, 2024,” said Mr. Nha.
To do that, businesses need to have communication solutions, through text messages and sales channels. Departments of Information and Communications also need to develop plans and advise the People's Committees of provinces and cities to use appropriate funds in the area to communicate and support users to switch devices to 4G phones.
According to the Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Department, after turning off 2G waves, by September 2028, 3G waves will be turned off in Vietnam to reserve resources for new technologies. Mr. Doan Quang Hoan, Vice President of the Radio Electronics Association, said that in addition to turning off 2G waves with a deadline of September 15, 2024, the issue of turning off 3G waves needs to be raised, because many countries have also turned off this technology.
Mr. Doan Quang Hoan, Vice President of the Radio Electronics Association
Currently, the shutdown of 2G and 3G waves is also taking place in Europe and North America. Developing countries are also quickly catching up as user habits change, leading to the need for faster connections such as 4G and 5G.
“In Asia-Pacific, the first wave of 5G has been present in the Philippines, South Korea, China, Australia and New Zealand, followed by Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia. In Vietnam, network operators have also shut down 3G waves to ensure network efficiency and reserve resources for new technology,” Mr. Doan Quang Hoan cited.
Experts explain that old technologies such as 2G technology, which is 30 years old, and 3G, which is nearly 20 years old, are now outdated and the network needs to be modernized. 4G, 5G and soon 6G are the next evolution of mobile networks and offer optimization options including faster speeds, larger capacity and better performance. 2G and 3G networks were designed for basic data and voice, today's technology has quickly outpaced this capability and older technologies cannot support high-speed data applications such as video streaming and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
What should people prepare for when 2G is turned off?
It is inevitable that internet infrastructure, including mobile technology, must be upgraded to meet new technologies. However, the question is, with 11 million 2G subscribers, most of whom lack technological skills and have difficult economic conditions, what resources can help them upgrade their mobile devices?
According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, what people need most right now is information. Users need to fully grasp information about the benefits and tasks to be performed when switching. When fully grasping information, there will be consensus between users and service providers. Users also need to grasp information about financial support from network operators when switching terminal devices.
“The Public Telecommunications Fund Program for the period 2021 - 2025 also mentions this content. From the perspective of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry is directing functional units to develop a decree to implement the Public Telecommunications Fund. The Public Telecommunications Fund not only serves to stop 2G technology, but also has a larger goal of supporting network operators to deploy 4G technology infrastructure in difficult areas, remote areas and support users to switch to smartphones,” Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications said that the main resource to help people switch devices will come from businesses.
Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Basic Information, Ministry of Information and Communications
“Enterprises have had many support policies, from free data service usage for a period of time, to supporting users to buy terminal devices so that they have the opportunity to access phone models with newer technology. When switching from 2G phones to 4G phones or higher, in addition to traditional services such as voice calls and texting, users can also access Internet-based services. Through this, users can use public administrative services and have the opportunity to get acquainted with digital services,” said Mr. Nha.
Sharing about the information and propaganda work of turning off 2G waves to the people, Mr. Ngo Thanh Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Grassroots Information, Ministry of Information and Communications said that this July, the Department will coordinate with the grassroots information force in localities to organize propaganda on the district-level radio system, commune-level radio stations and other media in the area.
The country currently has about 220,000 grassroots propagandists, this is the force that transmits information to each person quickly and effectively. In addition, in July 2024, the Zalo OA grassroots information channel will be established and put into use, bringing information directly to the people.
Turning off 2G waves is an opportunity for many mobile users to access information via the Internet, learn digital skills to form a digital society and digital economy. However, users also need to pay attention, learn carefully and accurately when using new services to avoid encountering unnecessary consequences.
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