Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology responded to issues related to 2G/3G network withdrawal that users are concerned about on the leadership message board of People's Daily Online. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that 2G/3G network withdrawal is an inevitable choice for the upgrading of mobile communication networks, and it is also the current main international practice. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology pointed out that network withdrawal work needs to be planned and promoted rationally. Telecom companies should formulate network withdrawal plans based on their own conditions, and the network withdrawal can only be implemented on the premise of fully protecting the rights and interests of users.

Attached is the full text of the reply from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology:

Since the Ministry of Education issued the 5G license in June 2019, China's 5G commercial use has been officially launched. my country's mobile communications have entered the stage of "four generations under one roof" including 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.

First, 2G/3G network withdrawal is an inevitable choice for the upgrading of mobile communication networks, and it is also the current main international practice. According to incomplete statistics, more than 100 operators around the world have implemented 2G/3G network withdrawals and used the vacated 2G/3G frequencies for 4G/5G deployment. Using limited frequency resources and network resources in the development of 5G and 4G mobile communication networks will help reduce overall network operation costs and improve my country's network operation efficiency. At the same time, most of the current mobile phones are all-Network mobile phones, which need to support all six standards and more than ten frequency bands. Removing the network can also reduce the complexity of the mobile phone, which is beneficial to improving the performance of the mobile phone and reducing the cost of mobile phone terminals.

Second, withdrawing from the mobile communications network is not simply a matter of "quitting at the drop of a hat." User protection measures need to be improved, and withdrawal from the network can only be implemented on the premise of fully protecting the rights and interests of users. Enterprises must plan and inform early, must have user protection measures and complete user aftermath plans, and have the ability to provide better network coverage, stronger business capabilities and better service quality, and provide users with "willingness to quit" and " Be willing to retreat" to create conditions.

In the next step, considering that mobile communication network withdrawal involves many users and has a great social impact, it is necessary to make overall plans and promote it reasonably, give play to the market's decisive role, strengthen the main responsibility of enterprises, and let telecom companies formulate network withdrawal plans based on their own conditions, and activate 2G network withdrawal in a timely manner. Network work, do a good job in guiding public opinion, dealing with user consequences, shutting down base stations, stopping services, vacating resources, applying for cancellation permission, etc. Our department will promote and protect user rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations.