Churches to help with SIM registration exercise

Mainline churches will partner with National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta) to boost SIM card registration in remote locations nationwide, Information Communication and Technology Minister Sam Basil says.
He announced this yesterday at a meeting between the PNG Council of Churches and Nicta.
“We still have 1.5 million subscribers to register,” Basil said.
“This engagement will allow these people to be targeted through the churches, where the congregations are, which is mostly in remote locations around the country.
“I believe the council of churches will be able to partner effectively in the registration process so that we meet the deadline with all our people registered.”
The churches will receive K300,000 from Nicta to conduct workshops on SIM registration in the four regions before provincial workshops.
Telecom companies, especially Digicel, are expected to be part of this arrangement, says Nicta chief executive Charles Punaha.
“It is all about partnership in trying to undertake awareness, and also assist implementation of the SIM card registration process,” he said.
“The intention is to use the missionary clergy all around the country.
“After the regional workshop, we intend to have provincial workshops.
“That is one area that is still under discussion with Digicel, which as you know, is the main service provider.
“Telikom PNG and bmobile-Vodafone numbers are very small.
“The main challenge for us is with Digicel customers.”