Smart, Globe welcome 90-day SIM registration extension

Telcos Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. welcomed the government’s decision to extend the SIM registration period for another 90 days, beyond the original April 26 deadline.

“We welcome the 90-day extension of the SIM Registration deadline as discussed by DICT Secretary Uy today. It gives our subscribers more time to comply with the law and register their SIM, and gives telcos like ourselves and the government itself more time to reach more subscribers and campaign for SIM Registration,” Cathy Yang, first vice president and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart, said in a statement.

“With regards to the gradual deactivation being evaluated by the DICT, the discussions among the DICT, the NTC, and the mobile network operators are still ongoing. Our initial assessment is that it would be difficult for us to implement due to time constraints,” Yang added.

Globe Consumer Mobile Business head Darius Delgado, likewise, said the telco applauds the government’s move to give millions of unregistered subscribers more time to comply with the law.

“The government has given SIM users a full three months more to register their SIMs. We would like to appeal to our customers to register their SIMs as soon as they can. If you are having a hard time registering your SIMs, you can go to our Globe Stores and EasyHubs and we will provide the necessary assistance,” said Delgado.

Yang said Smart has been expending all-out efforts through communication across various channels, including TV, radio, print, billboards, text messages, digital, on-ground activities, exclusive data, SMS offers, pre-recorded messages via interactive voice response (IVR), and flash messages.

Delgado, for his part, said Globe’s 147 stores and 25 “EasyHubs” across the country are open for customers who need help registering their SIMs.

He said Globe has also been regularly joining SIM Registration Assistance initiatives led by the National Telecommunications Commission since January and works with local government units, groceries, and malls to set up assisted registration booths in various sites, including remote locations.

Yang said Smart has been deploying thousands of assisted SIM Registration booths across the country, working closely with the DICT, the NTC, other mobile operators, and other stakeholders, to help drive registration among Filipino mobile users.

Data released by the DICT showed that more than half of the SIMs across the country have yet to be registered with their respective PTEs three days before the April 26 deadline. —NB, GMA Integrated News