MICT concerned about slow SIM registrations
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has expressed its concern over the low public turn-up in SIM card registration.The ministry said that according to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, as of 15 July 2023, only around 29% of subscribers (less than 800 000 of over 2.7 million subscribers) have registered their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
The deadline for SIM registration is 31 December 2023.
"Despite the time frame provided for this critical process, there has been a low public response to this imperative. The ministry reiterates that there will be no extensions granted beyond the specified date of 31 December 2023," MICT executive director Audrin Mathe said in a media release.
Mathe said that it is essential to underscore the significance of SIM card registration as this process plays a pivotal role in deterring phone-based fraud, identity theft, and other criminal activities. Furthermore, "mandatory registration and identification of SIM card users aligns Namibian with international best practices," he concluded.