Vietnam is set to shut down its 3G networks by September 2028, following the global trend of making way for advanced 4G and 5G services. Deputy Director of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority, Nguyen Phong Nha, announced that after discontinuing 2G, Vietnam will shut down 3G services by September 2028 to allocate resources for new technologies.
Nguyen Trong Tinh, Deputy General Director of Viettel Telecom, one of the country's largest network operators, shared that shutting down 2G provides many benefits for both the public and the telecom operator. Viettel started shutting down 3G in 2022 and completed the process by Q1 2023. Nguyen Van Son, Director of Viettel Telecom’s Mobile Center, confirmed that nearly all Viettel's network no longer has 3G subscribers, with only a few hotspots remaining to support transmission. Viettel is now actively transitioning 2G customers to 4G, and expects that by the end of 2024, there will only be 4G and 5G subscribers.
Besides Viettel, which has already shut down 3G, other operators like VinaPhone and MobiFone will stop 3G services in areas where there are no 3G subscribers or traffic. However, they will maintain their 3G networks to ensure users with 3G devices or 4G devices without VoLTE can still access the network until September 2028.
Commenting on this, Kenneth Hardat, Telco Strategy Lead at BICS said, "Shutting down 2G and 3G is necessary to free up spectrum for 4G and 5G and bring advanced connectivity to more communities. However, it is important not to lose sight of how many people still rely on these legacy networks and ensure that progress doesn’t come at the cost of exacerbating the digital divide and leaving people behind. Four years is a sensible timeframe to transition users off 3G, provided there are public awareness campaigns about the switch."
"It’s also worth noting that many IoT-type devices can run on 2G and 3G networks due to their low-frequency coverage. If these networks are switched off, operators must work with industries to provide alternative connectivity solutions for sensors, trackers and other forms of low-powered IoT devices."
According to ABI Research, telecom operators in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions will lead in shutting down 2G and 3G networks. Analysts estimate that between 2019 and 2030, 13 telecom operators in the region will discontinue 3G services, followed by four in Europe, two in Africa and South America, and one in North America.
Source: https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/36577-sun-sets-on-3g-networks-in-vietnam