4G phone market is bustling after 2G signal is officially cut off

For more than 5 years, Mr. Ngo Duc Tri in Dien Nguyen commune, Dien Chau district has been using a 2G phone with Nokia buttons. However, after learning that this phone line would no longer be able to make or receive calls from October 15, he went to a phone store to buy himself a new phone with 4G technology to continue communicating with people.

Mr. Tri said: Nokia push-button phones were previously used by many people, especially older people like me, because they were easy to use, had clear calls and listening, and had long battery life. However, as society develops, digital technology becomes more accessible to the people, switching to 4G is completely in line with the trend. Even though we have to buy new phones and learn how to use them, we still accept it to go along with the State's policy.

According to the reporter, after 2G technology was cut off, mobile phone stores in Nghe An have seen an increase in customers due to people's need to buy new phones, especially cheap phones with 4G technology.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thuy - representative of a phone store in Vinh City said: Since the beginning of October, the purchasing power of 4G phones has increased compared to previous months. Customers are mostly middle-aged and elderly people, not familiar with technology. In particular, basic push-button phones (popular phones) have the strongest consumption with very accessible prices.

“These phones have a simple design, very similar to previous “brick” phones, but are equipped with 4G technology and have affordable prices, ranging from 400,000 to 1 million VND, suitable for people with basic needs such as calling and texting,” Ms. Thuy added.

In addition to meeting basic needs, 4G push-button phones are also popular with people thanks to their durability, long battery life and familiar design, making it easy for beginners to learn how to use.

In addition to the 4G push-button phone line priced under 1 million VND, the low-cost smartphone segment from 2 to 5 million VND also recorded a surge in sales after people upgraded their phones. Brands such as OPPO, Xiaomi, Huawei, Vivo... all have products in this segment. The characteristic of this line of phones is that they have 4G technology, and at the same time, the price is "softer" than the high-end phone lines of Apple or Samsung, making it easier for users to access.

Previously, from October 15, 2024, network operators officially stopped 2G technology nationwide under the direction of the Ministry of Information and Communications. This means that subscribers using 2G technology devices will be locked in both directions. Older phone models will also not be able to perform the functions of listening, calling, and texting as before. Switching to 4G technology phones is mandatory for people to maintain communication.

According to statistics from the Department of Information and Communications, Nghe An province has about 370,080 2G mobile subscribers. Viettel is the network operator with the largest number of 2G subscribers, with 300,000 subscribers; Vinaphone: 49,000 subscribers; MobiFone: 15,048 subscribers; Vietnamobile: 6,032 subscribers... these are also people using 2G Only phones or so-called "brick" phones. Up to now, network operators in Nghe An have basically completed upgrading 2G sims to 4G for people. The remaining few customers will be completed in the near future.

However, in reality, the transition to 4G technology still faces certain difficulties. The majority of people who still use 2G SIM cards and phones are the elderly, people living in rural areas, remote areas, and especially disadvantaged areas. These are the groups with lower access to information and income barriers, making it difficult to replace "brick" phones.

Currently, in addition to people proactively purchasing 4G phones, network operators also offer customer support programs such as giving 4G phones to families in difficult circumstances. Support the purchase price of new phones for customers with high consumption levels. Grasping the needs of the market, mobile phone stores are now also offering discount and promotion programs to increase the consumption of 4G phones.