MANILA, PHILIPPINES — As of January 29, only 27 million or 15.98 percent of the total subscribers have registered their SIM cards. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said that if the pace is sustained, only 60 percent could be registered by the deadline on April 26.
On the official website of NTC, only 27,005,612 SIM cards have been registered out of the 168 million total subscribers in the country.
Smart Communications Inc. tallies 13 million registered users, or 20 percent of their 67 million subscribers. Globe Telecom tallies 11 million registered SIMs, 12 percent of its 87 million subscribers. Meanwhile, DITO Telecommunity recorded a total of 2 million registered SIM cards, 16 percent of their 13 million users.
With only three months left before the deadline on April 26, NTC predicts only 60 percent of users may be able to register. However, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) may extend the deadline by 120 days, as stated in Republic Act 11934.
Still, both agencies hope that all telco providers successfully enlist all their customers within the original deadline.
Data collected under RA 11934 safe – NTC
NTC also reiterates that customer data is safe under the SIM card registration law, and PTEs will be heavily fined in case of a data breach.
“A fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P4,000,000 shall be imposed,” said NTC. A similar fine is also imposed if the breach occurs due to negligence.
NTC says data collected under RA 11934 will be treated as “absolutely confidential.”
“Information may only be released if a subscriber authorizes access [to it.] Public telecommunication entities (PTEs) may only be compelled to reveal subscribers’ data via court order or through a subpoena issued by a competent authority,” the agency added.
Have you registered your SIM yet? Check out the step-by-step guides for different SIMs below:
- STEP BY STEP GUIDE: TM SIM Card Registration for the SIM Card Registration Act
- STEP BY STEP GUIDE: Globe SIM Card Registration for the SIM Card Registration Act
- STEP BY STEP GUIDE: Smart SIM Card Registration for the SIM Card Registration
- STEP BY STEP GUIDE: TNT SIM Card Registration for the SIM Card Registration
- STEP BY STEP GUIDE: DITO SIM Card Registration for the SIM Card Registration Act
– WhatALife!
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