April 15th will change landline area codes phase 2

At 0:00 on April 15, 2017, telecommunications companies will carry out phase 2 of the area code conversion plan for 23 provinces and cities.

On March 31, 2016, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a meeting with telecommunications service providers to implement the second conversion of landline area codes. Speaking at this conference, a representative of the Department of Telecommunications said that the first conversion of landline area codes was basically successful.

The rate of customers dialing according to the new area code is very high, especially when the notification sound about the area code change is turned on, the rate of dialing according to the new method is over 80%, even nearly 100% for some businesses such as Viettel is 98% and Vietnamobile is 100%.

According to the analysis of the Telecommunications Department, the reason for this result is because the active participation of the media has brought information to customers to implement the plan of the Ministry of Information and Communications. The Telecommunications Department has commended businesses that have prepared well and successfully implemented the change of landline area codes.

Mr. To Cuong - Deputy General Director of VNPT said that recently VNPT has changed the landline area code according to the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications. Due to the characteristics of VNPT's landline network, which has been invested for many years and has many outdated devices, there were certain difficulties in the conversion process. Basically, up to this point, the conversion of landline area codes has been successful.

Speaking at the meeting, representatives of Viettel, MobiFone, Gtel, Vietnamobile, and FPT said that the first area code conversion process has basically been completed. Viettel shared that the rate of customers calling correctly according to the new area code accounts for over 90%.

According to Vietnamobile statistics, during the parallel dialing process, 80% of customers called using the new area code, while only 20% of customers dialed using the old method. According to telecommunications companies, the number of customers asking questions related to the area code conversion is not much.

Mr. Tran Manh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications emphasized that on April 15, 2017, the second landline area code conversion will be officially carried out. Therefore, businesses must coordinate with each other to carry out this work well.

In phase 2, the area codes of 23 provinces and cities will be converted: Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Tra Vinh, An Giang, Kien Giang and Soc Trang.

The conversion starts at 0:00 on April 15, 2017, ends at 23:59 on May 14, 2017, and ends at 23:59 on June 16, 2017.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam highly appreciated the businesses for their good performance in converting landline area codes in phase 1 on February 11, 2017. However, to successfully convert landline area codes in phase 2, Deputy Minister Phan Tam directed the telecommunications businesses to coordinate closely with each other.

In addition, businesses must step up communication to customers to create consensus. Telecommunications businesses must communicate about changing landline area codes on bills, social networks, etc. to provide customers with complete information, especially before parallel dialing is discontinued.

Deputy Minister Phan Tam also directed the Department of Telecommunications to send an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and cities to notify about the second phase of landline area code conversion and requested localities to direct local press agencies to propagate this issue.

According to Infonet