SIM registration now at 100.2 million or almost 60%, DICT says

At least 100.2 million subscriber identity modules (SIMs) have been registered with their respective telecommunications service providers exactly a month before the deadline of the extended SIM registration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Sunday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DICT Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Ian Dy said that this number of registered SIMs is already “significant” and has hit their soft target.

“Sa ngayon, nakaka 100,200,000 na tayo na registered SIM cards. Although this is like 60%, 59.67% ng total SIM cards na nabili, tingin namin significant na ‘yung number na ‘yan at nakaabot na tayo doon sa ating tinatawag na soft target,” he said.

(Right now, we have 100,200,000 registered SIM cards. Although this is almost 60% or 59.67% of the total SIM cards sold, we think that number is significant and we have reached our soft target.)

In April, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the 90-day extension of the SIM registration period to July 25, from the original deadline of April 26.

“Wala po ‘tong extension. Kahit gustuhin man namin, wala na dahil sa batas…Ito na ‘yung last. Matapos ang July 25, the next day, July 26, mapuputol ang iyong koneksyon kapag ang SIM card mo ay hindi rehistrado,” Dy added.

(There is no further extension. Even if we want it, there will be further extension because under the law, this is the last one. After July 25, the next day, July 26, your connection will be cut if your SIM card is not registered.)

The SIM Card Registration Act mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to establish their own registration platform where they will onboard their users who present valid identification cards.

This measure seeks to end crimes using the platform including text and online scams by regulating the sale and the use of SIMs through mandating registration to end-users. —KG, GMA Integrated News