OK given for SIM to be deleted early

DUE to financial risks to mobile operators, the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (Nicta) has agreed to deactivate unregistered SIM cards before the actual deadline of April 30, chief executive officer Charles Punaha says.
Speaking in Kokopo last Friday during the NGI SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration church leaders’ sensitisation workshop, he said a meeting was held last Tuesday to agree on the arrangements.
“Because of the financial risk to the operators, if they do not deactivate a SIM card that has not registered by April 30, there will be a fine of K50,000,” he said.
“So operators are now fully aware that come April 30, they have to start deactivating but because of the financial risk involved they are now telling us they will have to start deactivating well in advance, although the law says to only deactivate on April 30.
“They are now saying it might be difficult to deactivate everybody on April 30 so they want to do it starting now,” he said.
Punaha said Nicta would allocate short codes to each of the operators by end of this month for people to verify and confirm whether their SIM cards have been registered. The short code would show users their personal details including photos.
Nicta has advised mobile operators to send text messages starting next month to remind users who have not registered.
“After April 30, calls will be barred, sending or receiving texts will also be barred to get the attention of those who have not registered.”
Punaha said new SIM cards being purchased daily without being registered was compounding the problem and Nicta has directed that March 30 would be the cut-off date for sales of new SIM cards.
“Our intention is not to deny people’s access to ICT services but to encourage them to get registered,” he said.