Standardized subscriptions cool down, no more jostling in queues

Customers coming to authenticate subscriptions decreased sharply

Since June 15, about 18 million phone numbers whose information has not been verified have been blocked by one-way calls by network operators.

In particular, if you continue to not authenticate, the subscriber will be locked in both directions of communication after 60 days from the time of being locked in one direction. After 5 days, if the user does not complete the procedure, the network will revoke the phone number according to regulations.

Faced with that situation, there was a time when people flocked to transaction points to verify information and restore the ability to call and text.

Up to now, according to Dan Tri's reporter, at many transaction points of network operators, there is no longer a scene of people lining up crowdedly to standardize information like during the peak period in June.

At a Vinaphone transaction point, store manager Trieu Thanh Hang said that up to now, the number of customers coming to handle subscription-related issues has decreased significantly.

"Most of the time, only customers who change their phone and can't authenticate themselves do they come to the store for support. There are many other procedures that can be done online, so customers have also reduced it," Ms. Hang said.

At another transaction point at Viettel network, the scene of people lining up crowdedly waiting for support also no longer appeared.

Ms. Tran Thi Ngan, store manager of Viettel transaction point, said that since the end of June, the number of customers has come mainly to receive support for after-sales services such as changing the name of the subscriber, converting between prepaid and postpaid subscriptions, and terminating the contract.

General records show that most customers come for treatment immediately after being locked in one direction, so there is rarely a situation where the subscription is locked for a long time. Therefore, the number of locked phone numbers has now decreased significantly.

In cases of lost SIM, stores still support re-issuance but it is required that the person doing the procedure must be the subscriber.

Intentionally using an unauthorized SIM can be fined up to 50 million VND

According to Article 34 of Decree No. 174/2026/ND-CP, telecommunications subscribers who use documents with inaccurate information or other people's identification documents or legal entity certification documents of other organizations to enter into contracts according to the form will be fined 200,000 to 500,000 VND for each subscriber number, if the violation is from 1 to 10 numbers.

The fine increases to 5 to 10 million VND if the violation is from 11 to 200 subscribers, 10 to 20 million VND for 201 to 500 subscribers and 30 to 50 million VND for 501 subscribers or more.

The Decree also clarifies that a number of acts will also be punished with similar levels as above, including:

- Do not update subscription information when there is a change in identification documents or when self-discovering incorrect subscription information or when receiving notice from the network about incorrect subscription information.

- Do not request the network operator to issue or restore the subscription number or do not request to terminate the contract when losing or no longer using the subscription SIM or device with the subscription number attached.

- Failure to clarify the use of subscription numbers by organizations and individuals that have entered into contracts according to the form and general transaction conditions with telecommunications enterprises.

- Do not re-sign a contract with a telecommunications enterprise when transferring the use of a phone number to another organization or individual for use.

For telecommunications businesses, the Decree clearly states sanctions related to providing services to subscribers with incomplete information or when registration, authentication, and storage of complete and accurate information have not been completed as prescribed.

With the above behavior, businesses will be fined from 10 to 20 million VND if violating 1 to 10 numbers. If the number of violations is larger, the fine can also be up to 100 million VND and is accompanied by the risk of suspension of new subscriber development activities from 1 to 7 months.

In addition, businesses that register online subscription information for people who have more than 3 phone numbers on 1 document will also be fined from 10 to 100 million VND depending on the number of violating subscribers.