Da Nang will begin blocking signals for non-compliant 2G mobile phones from September 16, 2024 according to the roadmap issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications to fully phase out the 2G mobile network in Viet Nam.

Currently, the city has prepared all tasks and policies to ensure that the suspension of 2G service does not affect people's daily life, and socio-economic activities.

Many activities deployed to support smartphones

Mobile carriers in the city will no longer provide services to devices that only support 2G starting from September 16, 2024. This move aligns with the roadmap issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Phones that only support 2G can no longer make outgoing calls and texting. Before that, the city has proactively deployed many activities and policies to ensure that the cessation of 2G service does not affect people's lives but also helps achieve socio-economic goals.

Specifically, on June 26, 2024, the municipal Department of Information and Communications issued Plan No. 638/PA-STTTT on implementing a programme to support universalisation of smartphones for poor and near-poor households in the city from support sources of telecommunications providers.

On July 30, 2024, the municipal People's Council issued Resolution No. 34/2024/NQ-HDND stipulating the policy of supporting the cost of purchasing smartphones for poor and near-poor households in the city.

Accordingly, the municipal People's Committee supports up to VND2 million/device/household from the local budget for each of poor or near-poor households as all members of the household do not have a smartphone. About 1,800 households are supported with smartphones to ensure communication in Da Nang.

In 2022-2023, the city coordinated with telecommunications providers to donate hundreds of smartphones to people in difficult circumstances such as Hoa Bac Commune (Hoa Vang District), and Ngu Hanh Son District.

To ensure the roadmap to stop all 2G subscribers and infrastructure before September 16, 2026, Da Nang has accelerated propaganda, supported subscribers to switch to 4G phones, and implemented a policy to support the popularisation of smartphones to implement the policy of shutting down the 2G network.

Telecommunications providers are stepping up propaganda and supporting these subscribers to switch to 4G phones, such as supporting the cost of buying 4G smartphones or 4G smartphones.

From July 2024 to the end of August 2024, the city has supported smartphones for people in 35 out of the 56 wards and communes with a total of 1,195 households/devices. Of which, Mobifone Telecommunications Corporation has supported 670 devices for people in 15 wards and communes; the Military Industry - Telecommunications Group (Viettel) 437 devices in 17 wards and communes; and the Vietnam Post Group (VNPT) 88 devices in 4 wards and communes. All smartphones are given free data Sims to experience the 4G network and digital applications for about 2-3 months.

No worries about lack of infrastructure, 4G phones

According to stores and chains of phone and electronic device sales in the city, 2G phones are no longer available, instead, there are popular devices with 4G connectivity. The prices and models of the phones are very diverse, from keyboard-based to touch-screen phones, priced from VND300,000 to several millions of VND/device. The number of phones in the stores is very abundant, meeting the growing demand for 4G phones in the near future.

By the end of August 2024, VNPT had converted 2,039 subscribers, and there are still 2,690 subscribers that need to continue converting before September 15. Currently, there are still some people in the city who are using old devices that do not support 4G and 5G serices, requiring them to change their phones to access and use the device.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hai, Director of VNPT Da Nang shared that VNPT is cooperating with Mobile World store to provide phones priced under VND500,000 with 4G technology support to help people access 4G and 5G services soon.

The unit is also implementing the "Public Telecommunications" programme. Accordingly, poor and near-poor households according to the central poverty threshold will be able to use the Public Telecommunications Fund, such as supporting mobile services of VND60,000/month, using 4G and 5G data services for free within 12 months.

In addition, VNPT is considering and adjusting the support programme for people who commit to registering and using the VND150,000/month package for 6 consecutive months, then they will be given a VNPT phone.

Similarly, Viettel Da Nang is carrying out many activities to support smartphones for disadvantaged households, helping them have access to modern technology.

According to Mr. Huynh Ngoc Thuong, Director of Viettel Da Nang, in parallel with the activities coordinated with the city to give phones to disadvantaged households, Viettel Da Nang also support free 4G phones for customers who are poor and near-poor families and people with meritorious services, as well as phones with free data Sims at preferential prices in order to encourage people to "upgrade" their smartphones, ensuring progress in stopping 2G network operations.

Viettel commits to having enough infrastructure and equipment to support people and customers with the need to upgrade to 4G phones with prices starting from only VND390,000. “These phones are not only communication tools, but also facilitate people to access online public services, educational and health information, and other social support programmes. This helps people have more opportunities to study, find jobs, and improve their quality of life,” Mr. Thuong added.

Reporting by CHIEN THANG - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG