Decision No. 798/QD-BTTTT dated May 25, 2018 promulgating network code conversion plan

DECISION

PROMULGATING NETWORK CODE CONVERSION PLAN

MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

Pursuant to the Law on Telecommunications dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to Decree No.25/2011/ND-CP dated April 06, 2011 of the Government on elaboration and guidelines for enforcement of several articles of the Telecommunications Law; Decree No.81/2016/ND-CP dated July 01, 2016 of the Government in amendments to Decree No.25/2011/ND-C; Decree No.49/2017/ND-CP dated April 24, 2017 of the Government on amendments to Article 15 of Decree No.25/2011/ND-CP and Article 30 of Decree No.174/2013/ND-CP dated November 13, 2013 of the Government on penalties for administrative violations relating to post, telecommunications, information technology and radio frequency;

Pursuant to Decree No.17/2017/ND-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government on functions, duties, rights and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Pursuant to Circular No.22/2014/TT-BTTTT dated December 22, 2014 of the Minister of Information and Communications on telecommunications number storage planning;

At the request of the Director of Telecommunications Authority,

HEREBY DECIDE:

Article 1. The network code conversion plan is issued together with this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision comes into force from the day on which it is signed.

Article 3. Chief Office, Director of Telecommunications Authority, Directors of agencies affiliated to the Ministry of Information and Communications, Directors of Information and Telecommunications Departments of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities, Director General and Directors of telecommunications enterprises, relevant organizations and individuals shall take responsibility to implement this Decision./.

NETWORK CODE CONVERSION PLAN

(Issued together with Decision No.798/QD-BTTTT dated May 25, 2018 of the Minister of Information and Telecommunications)

For the purpose of launching the planning on telecommunications number storage which is issued together with Circular No.22/2014/TT-BTTTT dated October 22, 2014, the Ministry of Information and Communications promulgates a plan for network code conversion (hereinafter referred to as “the plan”) with the following contents:

I. Objectives and requirements of the plan

1. Objectives:

Minimize potential negative effects on service providers and users and ensure harmony in social interests and social costs

2. Requirements:

a) Ensure telecommunications network security and information security before, during and after the conversion of network codes;

b) Convert network codes in a rapid manner which is convenient for service providers and users

c) Adopt technical methods for minimizing communication loss before, during and after the change in network codes by enabling service users to dial under both old and new network codes (parallel dialing) during the conversion of network codes and maintain the voice notification within an appropriate period of time after such conversion;

d) Convert the network codes in compliance with international practice;

dd) Use converted telecommunications network codes in an economic and efficient manner in consistent with the planning on telecommunications number storage issued together with Circular No.22/2014/TT-BTTTT dated December 22, 2014 of the Minister of Information and Telecommunications

II. Contents of the plan:

I. Review and breakdown of H2H subscriber numbers and M2M subscriber numbers

For the purpose of ensuring that the subscriber numbers of terrestrial mobile network for human use (H2H subscriber numbers) are properly converted into terrestrial mobile network codes for human-to-human communication (H2H network codes) and subscriber numbers of terrestrial mobile network for machine use (M2M subscriber numbers) are properly converted into terrestrial mobile network codes for machine-to-machine communication (M2M network codes), mobile network carriers shall take responsibility to carry out review and breakdown of H2H and M2M subscriber numbers as follows:  

1.1. M2M subscribers: M2M subscribers mean subscribers of terrestrial mobile network for machine-to-machine communication through transmission and receiving of data and messages (SMS) without voice transmission and receiving (except for notifications)

1.2. H2H subscribers: H2H subscribes mean subscribers of terrestrial mobile network other than M2M subscribers prescribed in item 1.1 mentioned above.

2. Stage 1: Conversion of H2H network codes and fixed-satellite telecommunications network code (VAST network codes)

2.1. H2H network code conversion

Current H2H subscribers using 21 network codes with prefixes “1xx” (11-digit phone numbers including the prefix “0”) will be converted into the following 21 network codes (10-digit phone numbers including the prefix”0"):

2.2. VSAT network code conversion

The VSAT network code shall be converted from 99 2xxxxxx into 67 2xxxxxx.

2.3 Implementation

For the purpose of minimizing communication loss before, during or after the conversion, network codes shall be converted in the 4 following steps:

a) Notify the conversion on domestic mass media, to foreign telecommunications management agencies and International Telecommunication Union at least 60 days before such conversion;

b) Adopt technical methods for parallel dialing for a 60-day period from the conversion date;

For instance: The user may get through a VinaPhone subscriber by dialing either 0123.4567890 (with old network code) or 083.4567890 (with new network code) during this 60-day period.

c) Maintain voice notification within a 90-day period (starting from the end date of parallel dialing) During such period, all dialed calls under new network codes shall get through as usual while those under old network codes shall be transferred to a voice notification (in English and Vietnamese). To be specific:

c1) With regard to domestic calls, the voice notification shall be produced by the telecommunications service provider that offers the outgoing call service.

The voice notification shall me made as follows: “Xin thông báo: mã mạng (mã mạng cũ) đã thay đổi. Đề nghị Quý khách quay số lại, thay (0+mã mạng cũ) thành (0+mã mạng mới). Please note that: the network code (old network code) has been changed. Please redial, replacing (0+old network code) with (0+new network code)".

For instance: A user in Vietnam dialing 0123.4567890 (with old network code) to a VinaPhone subscriber will receive the following voice notification: “Xin thông báo: mã mạng 123 đã thay đổi. Đề nghị Quý khách quay số lại, thay 0123 thành 083. Please note that: the network code 123 has been changed. Please redial, replacing 0123 with 083”.

c2) With regard to incoming international calls to Vietnam, Gateway of the incoming international call service providers shall produce the voice notification. 

The voice notification shall me made as follows: “Please note that: the network code (old network code) has been changed. Please redial, replacing (country code + old network code) with (country code + new network code). Xin thông báo: mã mạng (mã mạng cũ) đã thay đổi. Đề nghị Quý khách quay số lại, thay (mã nước+mã mạng cũ) thành (mã nước+mã mạng mới)".

For instance: A user outside Vietnam dialing +84.123.4567890 (with old network code) to a VinaPhone subscriber will receive the following voice notification: “Please note that: the network code 123 has been changed. Please redial, replacing 84123 with 8483. Xin thông báo: mã mạng 123 đã thay đổi. Đề nghị Quý khách quay số lại, thay 84123 thành 8483”.

d) End of voice notification maintenance: Calls only get through if the user dials new network codes.

2.4 Implementation duration

For the purpose of ensuring a safe and convenient conversion, network codes shall be converted on Saturdays or Sundays avoiding national holidays. To be specific:

a) The network code conversion shall start at 00:00 on September 15, 2018;

b) Parallel dialing shall start at 00:00 on September 15, 2019 and end at 23:59 on November 14, 2018;

c) The voice notification shall be maintained from 00:00 on November 15, 2018 to 23:59 on June 30, 2019.

Description table of H2H and M2M network code conversion shall be provided in Appendix 1 issued thereto. 

3. Stage 2: M2M network code conversion

Current M2M subscribers using network codes with prefixes “9x” (10-digit phone numbers including the prefix '0") and “1xx” (11-digit phone numbers including the prefix “0”) shall be converted into the code with prefixes “1x” (11-digit phone numbers including the prefix "0") as follows:

3.1. According to the planning on telecommunications number storage, real conditions and requirements for use of M2M number storage, the telecommunications service provider shall request the Telecommunications Authority to distribute M2M network codes with prefixes “1x” for conversion and development of M2M network. 

3.2 Current M2M subscribers using 21 network codes with prefixes “1xx” (11-digit phone numbers including the prefix “0") shall remain unchanged (not converted) during the conversion of H2H and VSAT network codes prescribed in item 2 in this part. 

3.3 With the aim of using the M2M number storage in an economic and efficient manner in consistent with the using condition of each service provider and the planning on telecommunications number storage, and offer favorable conditions to the users, telecommunications service providers shall, on their own initiative, work with M2M subscribers in order to convert the network codes with prefixes "9x" and "1xx" into the those with prefixes "1x" distributed. This conversion may or may not change the national code (network code + subscriber number) of the M2M subscriber as agreed by such M2M subscriber and the mobile network carrier.

3.4 Implementation duration

Mobile network carriers shall, on their own initiative, work with M2M subscribers in order to convert M2M network codes into those with prefixes "1x" from July 01, 2018 to December 31, 2020.

Description table of M2M network code conversion shall be provided in Appendix 2 issued thereto. 

III. Implementation

1. The Telecommunications Authority shall direct and instruct telecommunications service providers to implement this plan and send consolidated reports to the Minister of Information and Telecommunications.

2. According to this plan, agencies affiliated to the Ministry of Information and Communications and press agencies shall broadcast the network code conversion to relevant organizations and individuals for the purpose of minimizing potential negative effects on service providers and users.

3. Information and Telecommunications Departments of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities shall cooperate with press agencies and relevant entities in broadcasting this plan.

4. Telecommunications service providers shall:

4.1. prepare and launch their own plans for network code conversion in consistent with this plan;

4.2. notify the network code conversion on mass media at least 60 days before such conversion;

4.3. instruct the telecommunication service users to dial under the guidance provided in this plan;

4.4. cooperate with other relevant domestic and foreign telecommunications service providers in converting the network codes;

4.5. adopt technical methods with the aim of minimizing negative effect on communication (if any) before, during and after the conversion;

4.6. send written reports on results of network code conversion to the Telecommunications Authority - Ministry of Information and Communications.

Should any question arise during the implementation, telecommunications service providers and relevant organizations and individuals impossible failure revoke shall timely notify the Telecommunications Authority  - Ministry of Information and Communications for consideration and instruction for handling.

APPENDIX 1

DESCRIPTION TABLE OF CONVERSION OF H2H AND VSAT NETWORK CODES
(Issued together with the network code conversion plan)

APPENDIX 2

DESCRIPTION TABLE OF M2M NETWORK CODE CONVERSION
(Issued together with the network code conversion plan)