Mandatory SimCard registration to roll out 2016

Lack of enabling regulations has caused the delay implementation and rolling out the mandatory SimCard registration which was supposed to roll out last year.

The mandatory SimCard registration is aimed at preventing the use of mobile phones for criminal activities.

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Communications Officer Clara Mulonya said the future of the project will be discussed in the next sitting of Parliament on November 6 2015 as it is part of the recommendations put forward in the review of the Communications Bill.

“Consultations on the regulations are still on-going with all key stakeholders, it is expected that the process will be finalized during the first half of 2016 to allow effective registration of the SimCards in use by all subscribers.” she said.

Airtel’s Public Communications Manager Edith Tsirizani said her company is registering names voluntarily and will roll out mandatory registration when all guiding principles are set.

On the other hand, TNM’s Public Relations Officer, Limbani Nsapato, said as required by law the company will undertake all the required procedures.

Nsapato said TNM awaits the necessary legislation that will facilitate the sim registration process.

Apart from reduction of criminal activity, sim card registration also enables government to monitor and verify the actual tele-density figures and active lines in the industry thus ensuring that tax revenue from mobile service providers correlated with the data presented by mobile operators.

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