DICT: SIM registration at 64.114 million two weeks before deadline

Less than half of the total SIMs across the country have been registered with their respective public telecommunications entities with only a little over two weeks left before the deadline.

Data released by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday showed that 64,114,057 SIMs were registered as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 9.

This translates to 37.94% of the 168.977 million SIMs across the country and reflects an increase from the 62.170 million SIMs registered as of April 7.

Broken down, DITO Telecommunity Corp. accounted for 4.818 million SIMs; Globe Telecom Inc. with 27.257 million; and Smart Communications Inc. with 32.038 million.

Earlier last month the DICT said the April 26, 2023 deadline would remain in place. The registration rate then was 23.97%.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, all PTEs are mandated to establish their respective registration platforms to onboard users who present valid identification cards.

Users are given 180 days or until April 26, 2023 to register their SIM cards, else face the risk of having these deactivated.

The implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act took effect on December 27, after the measure was signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last October.

PTEs had said they were all set for the registration process, but birthing pains were expected during the initial stages.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has since ordered them to report any problems encountered by users during the registration. — DVM, GMA Integrated News