Subscribers who fail to register will have their SIMs deactivated.
Telco providers that will refuse or fail to register a SIM or subscriber identity module will be penalized with up to P1 million.
SIMs should be registered with its respective telco provider as a pre-requisite to the SIM activation.
Existing SIM subscribers should register within 180 days after the effectivity of the law. Failure to register will result in automatic SIM deactivation.
Subscribers will need to present a photo with any valid government-issued ID to register their SIM. SIM registration shall be implemented for free.
All SIMs, including embedded SIMs or eSIMs, other variations/ technologies and other future technologies thereof, which are provisioned by any telco provider to provide SMS (short messaging service), voice and/or data services are subject for registration. These include SIMs intended for data-only or used for fixed wireless broadband modem and/or wireless local loop, machine-to-machine service and or internet of things.
Deactivated SIM may only be reactivated after registration; provided that the reactivation should be made not later than five days after the automatic deactivation.
Existing postpaid subscribers will be required to confirm their information and data included in the SIM Register, through their telco providers’ registration platform or website. A privacy notice shall be made available on the platform or website.
By registration, the following will be provided by the subscriber: full name; date of birth; sex; present and official address; type of ID and ID number presented.
Businesses that will register their names will need to provide their business name, address and the name of the authorized signatory.
For minor end-user, the registration will be under the name of the minor’s parent or guardian with requirements such as a valid ID and consent of the minor’s parent or guardian to register the SIM.
SIMs registered for foreigners visiting as tourists will only be valid temporarily for 30 days. They should present a passport, proof of address in the Philippines and a return ticket to their country. Extension of the SIM should be supported by an approved visa extension.
Ang change in the information for SIM registration and stolen SIM should be immediately reported to the telco providers. In case of death, the immediate family or relatives must notify the telco provider.
Any change in information requested by a subscriber should be accomplished within two hours from receipt. Deactivation of the SIM should be done 24 hours from receipt of information in cases of death, loss or theft of SIM or request for deactivation.
Under the IRR, telco providers can retain for 10 years from date of deactivation the relevant data and information of ang deactivated SIM.
Using false information or fictitious identities to register a SIM can be fined up to P300,000 and imprisonment up to two years.
Spoofing a registered SIM can be fined P200,000.
Corresponding penalties will also be slapped to those who will sell stolen SIM; breach of confidentiality; and sell or transfer of a registered SIM without complying with the required registration.
Seamless, easy SIM registration
PLDT’s wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) hails the issuance of the SIM Registration Law’s IRR as it gears up to launch its SIM registration portal to facilitate an easy, convenient and rewarding SIM registration experience for its subscribers.
“With connectivity being crucial to powering the Philippine economy’s resurgence, we reaffirm our commitment to ensure that the implementation of the SIM Registration Law will be easy and convenient for subscribers and will not deprive subscribers of their right to connectivity,” said Francis Flores, senior vice president and head of Consumer Business Group – Individual at Smart in a statement.
“We are ready to roll out our SIM Registration processes after months of preparations, which have included, among others, studying best global practices and technology solutions from other countries that have already implemented SIM registration. We will release more information about the SIM registration portal via our official channels in the next few weeks,” he added.
Globe, on the other hand, welcomed the released of the IRR.
“Our goal is to have SIM registration process that is seamless, secure, inclusive and convenient for our customers,” said Globe Group president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu, in a report.
The SIM Card Registration Act is expected to be implemented starting Dec. 27. (KOC)