SIM reg needs in-person visit — NTC

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is proposing to amend the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act by requiring a personal appearance for registration. 

The regulator said Tuesday the revision aims to address concerns that the current online registration system has been exploited by fraudsters, leading to a surge in text scams. 

“We remain focused on achieving the law’s objectives and ensuring a safer digital environment for all mobile users,” the Commission said.

Under the existing law, individuals can face imprisonment of up to six years and fines of up to P300,000 for fraudulent SIM registrations.

However, authorities have noted that scammers continue to circumvent the system by selling registered SIMs under false identities.  

To mitigate these risks, the NTC previously issued Memorandum Order No. 010-09-2023, which directed public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to strengthen their SIM registration verification processes and deactivate clickable links in person-to-person text messages. 

Last year, the NTC submitted proposed amendments to Congress, including provisions to regulate SIM ownership limits and mandate a government-issued ID validation platform accessible to PTEs.  

In addition to regulatory efforts, telecommunications providers intensified their anti-fraud initiatives last year, blocking over 3.3 billion scam messages and deactivating more than 3.1 million fraudulent SIMs.