The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) says 214,851 SIM cards risk permanent deactivation if not registered before the grace period ends on 30 June.
This follows the implementation of mandatory SIM card registration regulations. Following the initial registration deadline of 31 March 2024, a temporary suspension period resulted in the deactivation of 567,298 unregistered SIM cards.
“Following the SIM card registration deadline on 31 March 2024, registration statistics increased from 70.6% in February 2024 to 91% as of 30 April 2024 as revealed by the CRAN. By the end of April 2024, 2,172,379 SIM users had registered their cards out of 2,387,230 active SIM cards,” said MICT Minister Emma Theofilus.
She further explained that mobile network operators like Paratus Telecommunications and UCOM have achieved 100% registration for their clients.
Telecom Namibia and Mobile Telecommunications (MTC) are nearing completion with 70% and 94% registered SIM cards, respectively.
“Mobile users who have not yet registered have until 30 June 2024 to do so or they risk having their numbers permanently canceled. If a number is canceled, mobile operators will resell it, and the new user will be required to register their SIM card,” the Minister said.
The SIM card registration exercise, initiated in 2021, aims to comply with international practices and regulations outlined in the Communications Act of 2009.
The Ministry says that the exercise aims to combat phone-based fraud, identity theft, and other criminal activities. Additionally, registered SIM cards are crucial for facilitating secure e-commerce and online transactions in the digital world.
