DICT mulls extending April 26 SIM registration deadline

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is planning to give more time for mobile subscribers to register their SIMs or subscriber identity modules beyond the April 26 deadline.

“The DICT is looking at the possibility of an extension,” DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo told reporters in a Viber group message on Thursday.

Lamentillo made the announcement as only 24.54% or 41,471,503 subscribers have registered their SIMs out of the total 168,977,773 subscribers across the country.

Broken down, Smart Communications has the highest number of SIM registrants at 21,115,477 or 31.05% of its total 67,995,734 subscribers.

Globe Telecom Inc. followed with 17,206,202 SIMs registered, representing 19.58% of its 87,873,936 total subscribers.

Meanwhile, DITO Telecommunity Corp. recorded 3,149,824 SIM registrations, equivalent to 24.02% of its 13,108,103 total subscribers.

“The DICT has the prerogative to extend the SIM Registration process for another 120 days. We are still deliberating on the matter,” Lamentillo said.

“Now we’re focused on increasing the number of registrants before the April 26 deadline,” she said.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, which was signed into law in October 2022, those who have SIMs have 180 days from the effectivity of the SIM Card Registration Act to register their numbers, or until April 26, 2023.

The law also provides that the DICT can extend the deadline for another 120 days as it deemed necessary.

The law mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers of SIM cards to require users to present a valid identification document with a photo upon purchase.

PTEs are also required to establish their own registration platform and submit a verified list of their authorized dealers and agents across the country to the NTC, along with an updated list every quarter.

Under the IRR, end users are also required to immediately report any change in the information supplied in their applications for registration and any instances of stolen SIMs.

In case of the death of the end user, the immediate family or relatives of the end user are required to report this to the respective PTEs, where they will file for any activation or deactivation moving forward.

PTEs are also required to deactivate SIM cards used for fraudulent text or calls upon due investigation.—AOL, GMA Integrated News