Viettel Post (VTP) Implements Circular 08/2026 for Mobile Subscriber Verification

Overview

Viettel Post (VTP) has announced guidance for mobile subscriber identity verification in compliance with Circular 08/2026 issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The regulation, effective from April 15, 2026, mandates biometric facial image authentication and other data standardization to eliminate junk SIMs and protect user rights. This affects millions of Viettel mobile subscribers and represents a significant regulatory shift for VTP’s telecom-related operations.

Key Facts

• Circular 08/2026 was issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on March 31, 2026, with enforcement beginning April 15, 2026.
• Verification requires four information fields: personal identification number, full name, date of birth, and biometric facial image.
• Subscribers with incomplete or inaccurate registration information who fail to complete biometric verification will have services terminated by telecom providers.
• Telecom enterprises must contact reported subscribers and allow 5 days for verification and registration completion procedures.
• Subscribers using phone numbers registered for VNeID level 2 accounts or chip-attached citizen identification cards are exempt, unless changing devices after June 15, 2026.
• Viettel provides verification channels through VNeID app, telecom enterprise apps, or direct transactions at legal service points.
• Non-compliant subscribers face one-way blocking initially, then two-way blocking and contract liquidation if unresolved.

What Happened

Viettel Post, through its parent Viettel Group’s telecom operations, has issued detailed guidance for implementing Circular 08/2026 on mobile subscriber identity verification. According to the company announcement, the circular establishes technical standards for verifying information of terrestrial mobile subscribers to standardize data, eliminate junk SIMs, and protect user rights. The verification process requires authentication of four specific information fields including biometric facial images, with multiple implementation methods available to subscribers through digital platforms or physical service points.

The regulatory framework specifies that after the April 15 effective date, subscribers with incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified biometric information will face service termination by telecom providers. Telecom enterprises must contact affected subscribers and provide a 5-day window for verification and registration completion. Failure to comply results in progressive service restrictions culminating in contract termination. The article notes exemptions for subscribers who have already used their phone numbers for certain government digital identity registrations, unless they change devices after June 15, 2026.

Market Context

Viettel Post (VTP) trades on the HOSE exchange and closed at VND 73 on April 10, 2026, down 0.68% with volume of 355,700 shares. As a logistics company within the Viettel ecosystem with exposure to telecom services, VTP’s stock may reflect investor sentiment regarding regulatory changes affecting its parent group’s core mobile operations. The Vietnamese telecommunications sector has faced increasing regulatory scrutiny around subscriber management and fraud prevention, with this circular representing the latest policy intervention.

Strategic Significance

The implementation of Circular 08/2026 represents a strategic compliance requirement that could reshape Vietnam’s mobile subscriber landscape. For VTP, while not a direct telecom operator, the regulation affects the ecosystem in which it operates, potentially influencing customer acquisition costs, subscriber churn rates, and operational procedures for telecom-related services. The mandatory biometric verification and data standardization aims to reduce fraudulent activities and junk SIMs, which could improve network quality and user trust over the long term, though may create short-term administrative burdens.

What to Watch

• VTP’s Q2 2026 earnings report for any disclosed impact on operational metrics or costs related to verification implementation.
• Ministry of Science and Technology enforcement reports or amendments to Circular 08/2026 following the April 15 effective date.
• Viettel Group’s subscriber base statistics in subsequent quarterly reports to assess churn effects from verification requirements.
• Regulatory developments from the Ministry of Information and Communications regarding telecom fraud prevention measures.
• VTP stock price reaction to subscriber verification progress reports through April and May 2026.