DICT: SIM card registration at 18.97%

Nearly 19% of all the SIM cards across the country have been registered with their respective public telecommunication entities (PTEs) as of Sunday, February 12, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) reported.

Citing data from telecommunications firms, the DICT said a total of 32,062,265 SIM cards were registered as of 11:59 p.m. on February 12, equivalent to 18.97% of the 168.977 million SIMs across the country.

Smart Communications Inc. accounted for 16.477 million SIM cards or 24.23% of its 67.995 million subscribers; Globe Telecom Inc. with 13.132 million SIM cards or 14.94% of its 87.873 million subscribers; and DITO Telecommunity Corp. with 2.452 million or 18.71% of its 13.108 million subscribers.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, all PTEs are mandated to establish their respective registration platforms to onboard users who present valid identification cards.

“This is expected to suppress the spread of spam texts, scams, and other cyber-attacks that can be perpetrated using mobile devices,” the DICT said Monday.

Users are given 180 days or until April 26, 2023 to register their SIM cards, else face the risk of having these deactivated.

The implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act took effect on December 27, after the measure was signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last October.

PTEs had said they were all set for the registration process, but birthing pains expected during the initial stages.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has since ordered them to report any problems encountered by users during the registration. — DVM, GMA Integrated News