The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) asked relevant departments and agencies to strictly handle violations related to the management of pre-activated SIM cards.

Nguyen Duc Trung, head of Viet Nam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) under the MIC, said that after inspections conducted by the authority, the ministry’s inspectorates and departments, authorities found that pre-activated SIMs were still easily obtained.

"The VNTA asked businesses to review their agents and comply with regulations on pre-paid mobile subscribers to streamline the market," he said.

"According to Decree 49 on pre-paid mobile subscriber management, VNTA will invite network operators to handle violations in accordance with regulations," said Trung.

Speaking on this issue, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Hong Hai said that the inspection had detected violations of pre-activated SIM cards at distribution channels.

The Deputy Minister requested VNTA to strictly handle these violations in accordance with the provisions of Decree 49. — VNS