What to do when the 2G network stops working?

(Dan Tri) - From October 2024, Vietnam has begun implementing the roadmap to turn off 2G signals. According to the plan, turning off 2G signals nationwide will be completed on September 15, except for some specific areas.

In fact, the process of turning off 2G waves will be implemented by network operators in each region. This means some customers may be affected by voice service earlier than September 15 if the device or subscription is not ready.

Users need to activate VoLTE on their phones to make voice calls after the 2G network stops working (Photo: The Anh).

Worth mentioning, the affected group also includes people using smartphones that support Internet connection instead of just 2G only phones as before.

Specifically, some smartphones still display 4G connection and normal Internet access, but when making or receiving voice calls, the device will switch to the 2G network to maintain connection. This process happens automatically so most users don't pay attention.

When the 2G signal is turned off, these phones need to make calls directly on the 4G network through VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology. If the device does not support/has not enabled the VoLTE feature, or the subscriber has not activated the service, users may experience interruptions when making or receiving calls.

In other words, a phone that supports 4G connection does not mean that the subscriber can definitely receive calls normally after the 2G signal is turned off. The affected groups are mainly those using old phones, laptops or devices that are not officially distributed in the Vietnamese market.

To check if the device supports VoLTE, users can go to Settings > Mobile > SIM > Voice & data, then find options like VoLTE or VoLTE Calls. Depending on the device and software version, the location of this setting may vary.

In case the phone does not support VoLTE, users will need to switch to a 4G/5G device with VoLTE compatibility.