Convert tens of millions of 11-digit subscribers to 10-digit ones

The plan to convert 11-digit subscriber numbers to 10-digit numbers is now one year behind schedule. The Telecommunications Department has submitted the plan to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and is awaiting approval from the Ministry.

According to this plan, tens of millions of 11-digit mobile phone numbers will be converted to 10 digits according to the Ministry's direction. Accordingly, the numbers 0166, 0122, 0199, 0188 will be converted to 10-digit subscribers using the numbers currently planned for fixed services such as 080, 030, 050, 040, 070.

Thus, 11-digit mobile phone numbers will keep the last number, only the first number will change when changing the number.

Illustration photo.

The conversion aims to unify the length of mobile phone numbers, ensuring that the telecommunications numbering system is used economically and effectively.

Previously, since 2016, the Ministry of Information and Communications has changed the landline area codes for 59 provinces and cities. The reason is to transfer the landline number (10 digits) to mobile numbers to optimize the number pool, because landline phones are increasingly used by fewer people, instead mobile phones are growing strongly.

There will be about five prefixes including 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 expected to be transferred to develop mobile subscribers, while prefix 6 (currently part of the number pool is used for the police sector) will be used for state agencies, ministries, branches, for satellite phones... In theory, the above five prefixes with a range of 10 numbers will create 500 million new subscribers (10 numbers).

The new numbers will be discussed by the Telecommunications Department with network operators to allocate network codes and new numbers to each business. To be fair, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications, a lottery may be used for network operators to choose their numbers.

According to the decree guiding the Telecommunications Law, when changing subscriber numbers, service providers must notify subscribers 60 days in advance through mass media; allowing simultaneous calls using the old and new methods within 60 days.

The network operator said that users will not have to re-register their numbers. The process of converting subscriber numbers will be carried out by the network operator on the system and specifically notified via text message to mobile network users.