2 million phone numbers may be blocked for not verifying personal information

The Ministry of Information and Communications said Wednesday some telecom providers had sought an extension of the deadline for verification, but it had refused.

“Extending the deadline would make phone number owners procrastinate,” Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long said.

Earlier this month the ministry had said personal information linked to mobile phone numbers that does not match the official national database would be locked from April.

If the information is not updated and verified within 15 days, people will not be able to make calls or send text messages.

After another 15 days they cannot receive calls or messages either.

Finally, 30 days later, the subscribers’ phone contracts will be terminated.

By Tuesday only 1.8 million numbers had their information updated, or only 47% of the 3.8 million that needed verification, according to the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VTA).

It said it has instructed service providers to send messages about the verification to customers from March 15.

Some people tried to update information through apps, but faced technical issues.

Nguyen Phong Nha, deputy head of the VTA, said only numbers that receive the text messages are required to have their information verified.

The verification process is one of many in a government program on updating and digitizing the national database to prevent the inappropriate use of phones.