11-digit mobile subscribers must go to the bank to convert

Before the information about the network code conversion of the Ministry of Information and Communications, the conversion of 11-digit subscribers to 10-digit subscribers will be implemented from 0:00 on September 15, many users expressed concern.

Ms. Thu Mai, Binh Tan, Ho Chi Minh City said that she is using an 11-digit Viettel subscription to register for SMS Banking and receive OTP codes from the bank. "If I change from 11 digits to 10 digits, will I have any problems?", Ms. Mai wondered.

Mr. Thanh Nam, District 6, also said that he is using an 11-digit phone number to register for several different bank accounts. "If I change my number now, I will have to go to all the banks to update all the new numbers. It will be very time-consuming. Not to mention the overload situation at the banks," he said.

Discussing this issue, the leader of Orient Commercial Bank - OCB said that, in principle, banks are not allowed to arbitrarily change customer information. Therefore, the bank cannot automatically convert customers' 11-digit phone numbers to 10-digit numbers without their request.

Accordingly, this person said that OCB is planning to propose two options. First, bank staff will proactively contact each 11-digit subscriber to invite them to the bank to update to 10 digits. Second, customers will proactively come to request to update to a new phone number.

"This will certainly waste time for both banks and customers. However, this is a general policy and guideline so it must be done," he shared.

Similarly, a representative of Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) said that the bank has information about the conversion of 11-digit subscriber numbers. However, because there has not been an official decision on the conversion, ACB has not yet come up with a specific solution to handle it.

"We are waiting for further instructions, then we will agree on a solution with the customer that is as simple and time-saving as possible," he said, adding that in principle, no matter what method is used, the customer must go to the bank in person to update the new number.

Other banks such as Vietcombank, Sacombank... said they are also considering the most reasonable solutions for this number change issue.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, there are currently about 60 million 11-digit subscribers and 700 VSAT subscribers affected by this plan. Telecommunications businesses will also be affected. However, the agency said that the network code conversion is necessary and brings long-term benefits.

The plan to convert 11-digit subscribers to 10-digit subscribers will start from 0:00 on September 15, 2018 with three phases and will be completed after June 30, 2019. Accordingly, Viettel's 11-digit subscribers will be converted from 016x to 03x; Vinaphone will be converted from 012x to 08x and MobiFone will be converted from 012x to 07x.

The management agency also expects this new plan to be stable until 2050 - a relatively long time. However, according to a representative of the Telecommunications Department, science and technology are currently very developed, so immediate needs cannot be foreseen. In some countries in the world, adjustments may be required every 10-15 years.