Business as usual after SIM registration: Basil

By MARK HAIHUIE
COMMERCE will not be affected due to subscribers being disconnected after the deadline of the SIM card registration, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Sam Basil says.
Basil, pictured, said in response to concerns about there being a possible drop in commerce resulting from subscriber deactivation.
He told The National that this would not occur as telecom companies would have almost all subscribers registered before the deadline. Telecommunication was vital for commerce and the economy and this would not be hampered due to subscribers being deactivated, he said.
“It was 1.5 million (unregistered people) and that was around December,” he said.
“Since then, registration has been ongoing and should come down about a million, and will keep going down until the deadline. That fear would be of a concern if we did not extend, but I am confident all will be registered in the time frame we have set.
“The remaining unregistered will mainly be based in the rural and remote areas.
“That’s why we are looking at ways to get them on.
“That is through partnering with our churches who are already on the ground there and have an extensive network to allow for this.
“The deadline will be met.”
National Information Communication and Technology Authority senior official Kila Gulo-Vui also said that commerce would not be affected from this.
“The SIM registration is basically to promote responsible use of mobiles and is something that is in place for other countries as well” he said.
“We have trust in the process.
“It is just a matter for people to come on board.
“I don’t think that most subscribers will miss out and it won’t have affect in business.”