Nine days after the expiration of the Subscriber Identity Module card registration exercise, our correspondent has gathered that some telecoms operators have yet to disconnect unregistered SIMs on their networks.
There are indications that some operators that earlier had claimed to have disconnected unregistered SIMs have only partially implemented the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission by disconnecting only a few SIMs.
A top source at the NCC, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence because he had not been authorised to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed the development, saying the NCC was preparing to clamp down on errant operators.
The source said, “We think some operators are playing games with the SIM registration exercise. We know what their fears are, and that was part of the argument they put forward when they called for an extension of the SIM registration deadline.
“But the NCC has to do its job. We must regulate the industry.”
The Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, NCC, Mr. Ubale Maska, in a recent letter to the telecoms operators, cautioned them to either commence deactivation of unregistered SIMs on their networks or face heavy sanctions.
The letter read in part, “Please note that the commission has commenced compliance monitoring, and if unregistered SIM cards are found to be active on your networks, the commission shall invoke its powers under regulation 19 and 20 of the Registration of Subscribers Regulations, 2011 and impose the maximum fine on your companies without further recourse to any network.”
In a bid to ensure that the directive was strictly adhered to, the NCC also directed operators to forward to it a summary of the registered and active lines on their networks as of June 30 this year.
The commission also demanded that the operators forward to it details of unregistered and deactivated lines as of June 30, in line with Section 15(2) of the NCC’s Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, 2011.
The NCC further said, “Operators must deactivate all unregistered SIM cards on their networks immediately. Deactivation, in this case, and consistent with Section 1 of the NCC’s Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation, 2011 means that all unregistered SIM cards are disallowed full access to your networks, including the ability to make and receive calls, to send and receive SMS and other range of services usually provided on your networks.
“Operators must provide a firm confirmation that all unregistered lines have been fully deactivated in line with the provisions of this regulation.”
Telecoms operators were also directed to forward on a weekly basis thereafter, details of the registration of the biometric information and other personal information of new lines to the commission for entry thereafter into the central database.
The Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, had said no operator would go unpunished if it failed to comply with the directive to switch off all unregistered subscribers.