1.67 million phone subscribers locked from making calls

This number accounts for more than 56% of subscribers who have been told by their service providers to verify their personal subscription data to ensure they match with that of the official national database, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The lock, which began Saturday, prevented subscribers from making phone calls, sending text messages and accessing the internet.

Users will have until April 15 to verify their information with the network provider, otherwise their subscription will be also blocked from receiving phone calls and text messages.

By May 15, if the data are still not verified, the subscriber will lose the phone number.

In recent days many telecom offices are filled with customers seeking to verify their personal information in response to the order of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Customers can check their personal information themselves either on websites or on apps, telecom providers said. However, many want to make sure their information is properly verified, so they are going to offices to be assisted through the procedures.

This is an effort of the ministry to prevent the inappropriate use of SIM cards, such as cold calling or money scamming, which has been going on for years.

Vietnam has 127 million mobile phone numbers in use, 96% of which belong to either Vinaphone, Viettel or MobiFone, according to the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority.