The national registration of SIM cards for all mobile phone users will greatly deter the proliferation of Short Message Service (SMS) scams and spam messages, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said.
NTC XI Regional Director Nelson Cañete, during the AFP-PNP press conference on Wednesday, said the registration will commence within the first six months of 2023 and will effectively put a stop to the ubiquity of SMS scams and spam messages that have plagued mobile phone users.
In preparation for the national registration, telco customers are advised to take clear photos of their government-issued valid ID which is required in the registration process, said Cañete.
He added that the process will be convenient for consumers as this will be executed online and will only require mobile phone users to connect to the internet.
The Public Telecommunication Entities (PTEs) will be responsible in providing all mobile phone users with a link to the registration portal within six months. All phone numbers that will remain unregistered by the end of this period will be deactivated. SIM cards sold and bought after December 27 will have a âdeactivatedâ status by default.
By validating the identity of mobile phone users with that of their respective phone numbers, tracking entities behind phone scams will become much easier, said Cañete. By keeping a centralized archive of mobile phone users, telco customers will also be protected from identity theft.
Police Regional Office XI Spokesperson PMaj Atty. Eudisan Dultiano, during the same media forum, said the SIM registration program will greatly assist the police force in their investigations not just on cybercrimes but all other crimes in general.
The NTC assures all users that the data they will be providing upon registration âwill be treated with utmost confidentiality.â CIO
