Viettel, Vietnam: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
Viettel plans to switch off 2G on 16 September 2026 and switched off 3G, according to the sources we checked on 26 October 2026. The table gives each source and how far we trust it; the rest of the page says what this means for IoT devices in Vietnam.
2G and 3G status at Viettel
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | Planned | 16 September 2026 | medium | tuoitre.vn, vietnamnet.vn National 2G switch-off set for 00:00 on 16 Sep 2026, after a first phase (Sep 2024) that cut 2G-only handsets; Viettel said 99% of its customers were on 4G/5G. Exceptions: Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands and DK platforms; VietNamNet says M2M links are exempt. Date has passed; the only post-event mention found is a Tuoi Tre humour-section page, so completion is not independently confirmed. |
| 3G | Switched off | none | medium | developingtelecoms.com, korewireless.com Developing Telecoms (Sep 2026) says Viettel has already retired its 3G network and runs 4G/5G only. No date found; Kore's 30 Jun 2022 entry is applied to all Viettel group networks and looks generic. |
Confidence is high when the operator or the regulator states the date, medium when several independent sources agree, low otherwise. We recheck every month.
What it means for IoT devices on Viettel
- 2G devices keep working until the shutdown (16 September 2026). Replace 2G-only devices before that date; once the network closes, they lose service on Viettel.
- 3G fallback no longer works on Viettel. Devices built for 3G (UMTS) or that fall back to it lose service; 4G devices with 2G fallback are not affected by this closure.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in Vietnam: we have not yet found a reliable source on permanent roaming. Details on the Vietnam page.
An M2M.global IoT SIM is not tied to a single network in a country, and its data can reach your cloud without the internet through private delivery.
Other operators in Vietnam
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| MobiFone | Switched off, 16 September 2025 | Planned, September 2028 |
| VinaPhone | Switched off, August 2026 | Planned, September 2028 |
All operators and both rules for Vietnam: IoT connectivity in Vietnam. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does Viettel switch off 2G in Vietnam?
Viettel plans to switch off 2G on 16 September 2026. National 2G switch-off set for 00:00 on 16 Sep 2026, after a first phase (Sep 2024) that cut 2G-only handsets; Viettel said 99% of its customers were on 4G/5G. Exceptions: Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands and DK platforms; VietNamNet says M2M links are exempt. Date has passed; the only post-event mention found is a Tuoi Tre humour-section page, so completion is not independently confirmed.
When did Viettel switch off 3G in Vietnam?
Viettel switched off its 3G network. Developing Telecoms (Sep 2026) says Viettel has already retired its 3G network and runs 4G/5G only. No date found; Kore's 30 Jun 2022 entry is applied to all Viettel group networks and looks generic.