This means that if users don’t shift to 3G/4G/5G mobile devices, those who use 2G-only phones won’t be able to make calls or send messages from September 16.

According to Viettel Telecom, the number of 2G subscribers on Viettel network remains high though the telco has tried measures to encourage people to shift to smartphones.

The subscribers are mostly clients in mountainous and border areas, and on islands (73 percent), older people (65 percent) and self-employed (75 percent).

They are considered vulnerable people, who are not easy to be persuaded. The subscribers need mobile phones just to make and receive calls.

“It’ll take a lot of time and exertion to contact them and persuade them to upgrade their mobile devices,” he said.

According to MobiFone, there are about one million subscribers using 2G feature phones on the network. 

MobiFone has launched a lot of programs to help clients shift to more modern devices, while it has tried to reduce the number of 2G BTS and prevent 2G phones from joining the network.

However, MobiFone said that it is a difficult process to persuade subscribers to replace their mobile phones. Many subscribers said they don’t have demand for new mobile phones.

The mobile phones which make calls, receive calls, send and receive messages, and have a long battery life are what subscribers want.

MobiFone has expressed concern about the relatively high number of 2G subscribers still existing on its network. Its resources are insufficient to give smartphones to all clients for free.

“It is estimated that about 500,000 subscribers using 2G-only feature phones will still exist on the network by September 16,” a MobiFone representative said.

According to VNPT VinaPhone, shutting down 2G is the decision by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). The system will stop serving subscribers using 2G-only phones from September 16. If subscribers don’t replace their phones, they will no longer maintain contacts from that day.

Meanwhile, Vietnamobile said 2 percent of its subscribers are still using 2G phones. The proportion of 2G-only subscribers has decreased gradually over the last year.

Network operators have two more months to persuade users to upgrade their phones.

Van Anh