As SIM card registration starts on 27 December 2022 following the enactment into law of Republic Act 11934 or the "Subscriber Identity Module Card Registration Act," the National Telecommunications Commission has reminded telco subscribers to comply with registering their SIM cards or else face inactivation of their numbers.

"Registration is free. SIMs, embedded SIMs, broadband modems, and internet-of-things devices are covered in the registration. While those newly purchased unregistered SIM cards will remain inactive until registered," a recent NTC advisory said.

The law requires all subscribers to public telecommunications services to register their existing SIM cards within the prescribed period.

In NTC's Implementing Rules and Regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act released on 12 December, subscribers will have 180 days from the effectiveness of the law to register their SIM cards.
The operators of public telecommunications entities who do not register a subscriber's SIM card face a fine of up to P1 million.

Telco companies, or called public telecommunications entities in the said law, are tasked by the law to be the implementing body of maintaining the database.

To recall, Globe Telecom on 21 December said it is ready to register 87.9 million SIM users online starting 27 December, while Smart Communications has released its guidance to all Smart and Talk and Text subscribers on the registration process.

According to Globe, by 27 December, new SIM holders can only purchase deactivated SIMs and must register them immediately to avail themselves of Globe services, although Globe and TM subscribers will continue to enjoy its services but must register until 26 April 2023 to avoid deactivation.

All Globe Prepaid, TM, Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi, Globe Mobile WiFi, and Globe Business prepaid subscribers can register their SIM cards at https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg.

By January, customers will also be able to register through the New GlobeOne app, the company said.

By February 2023, Globe is putting up assisted registration sites for those in need of help, those without access to the internet or those using basic or feature phones.