Local Public Telecommunication Entities (PTEs) start registering about 170 million Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards on Tuesday, December 27, in compliance with the law.
Globe Telecom Inc. will register some 88 Million SIMs online; Smart Communications Inc. has about 68 Million and DITO Telecommunity, 14 Million.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy "hopes that the SIM registration process can be accomplished within 180 days".
Existing subscribers of local telcos have until April 26, 2023 to register their SIMs to avoid deactivation.
However, starting December 27, 2022, new SIM holders can only buy deactivated SIMs and must register them immediately to avail of telco services.
Both regulators and telcos do not expect a glitch-free SIM registration, especially for early registrants.
Still, they encourage mobile subscribers to register as soon ss possible.
"The first two weeks will be a test registration, which means that registrations are valid but there could be some difficulties and minor errors as the PTEs fine tune the implementation process," DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo conceded in Monday's (December 26) media briefing on the SIM Registration Act at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) office.
Those who experience difficulties, glitches, or technical issues should immediately report to the telcos or relevant government agencies to be addressed accordingly, she admonished.
Furthermore, everyone should be mindful of fake websites, phishing, and other scams that may take advantage of people trying to register their SIMs.
Always check the source of the information before following instructions especially if it comes through email or text messages, Lamentillo stressed.
Also, SIM registrants must visit the official websites of their providers directly.
SIM registration is free and each PTE has set up a secure website where users van register their SIM.
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All SIM subscribers, whether postpaid or prepaid, including embedded SIMs or eSIMs and other variations that are provisioned by any PTE to provide text messages, calls, and/or data services, are required to register.
Those with SIMs intended for data-only or used for fixed wireless broadband modem and/or wireless local loop, machine-to-machine (M2M) service, and/or Internet of Things (IoT), are likewise required to register.
Failure to register an existing SIM within the required period will result in its deactivation, which means the subscriber will not be able to use his mobile service.
Should an individual buy a new SIM, he needs to register it first before the SIM can be activated.
All SIM registration will be done online, through the platform that will be provided by the PTEs.
To facilitate registration with limited telecommunication or internet access, the DICT and NTC will work with other agencies, local government units, and concerned PTEs to establish registration facilities in such areas.
Generally, individual SIM subscribers can register by accomplishing the registration form provided by PTEs with the following data: (1) full name, (2) date of birth, (3) sex, (4) present/official address, (5) type of ID presented, and (6) number of the ID presented, which should be a valid government-issued ID with photo, such as Passport, SSS ID, GSIS ID, Driver’s License, NBI or police clearance, OWWA ID, Voter’s ID, among others.
For minors, the registration of a SIM will be under the name of the minor’s parent or guardian, with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian and government-issued valid ID.
For juridical entity end-users, they need to provide the following information: (1) business name, (2) business address, and (3) full name of authorized signatory; and present the following documents: certificate of registration, and, in case of corporations, duly adopted resolution designating the authorized representative, and in the case of other juridical entities, a special power of attorney.
For foreign national end-users, tourist visa holders will only be issued SIM card with a 30-day validity period.
This can be extended only upon submission of approved visa extension.
Those with other types of visa can acquire SIMs without the 30-day temporary validity period and register the same.
All foreign nationals should provide the following information: (1) full name, (2) nationality, (3) date of birth, (4) passport, (5) address in the Philippines, (6) for persons of concern, the type of travel or admission document presented, and (7) ID number or number of document presented.
In addition, foreign nationals visiting as tourists must present their ticket showing the date and time of departure from the Philippines.
For those with other types of visas should present any of the following documents, whichever is applicable: Alien Employment Permit issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Alien Certificate of Registration Identification Card (ACRI Card) issued by the Bureau of Immigration or other types of official ID issued by any other visa-issuing agency; school registration and ID for students; or for persons of concern, the type of travel or admission document validly issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
It's the responsibility of end-users to register their own SIMs with their respective PTEs.
They have to immediately inform their PTEs if there are changes in the information of the SIM card holder, in case of loss of the SIM, or if the owner wants to deactivate the SIM.
In case of death of an end-user, the immediate family, relatives, or guardian should report to the concerned PTE.
For their part, the PTEs must ensure that data from the SIM registration are secured and protected at all times.
PTEs can only disclose information obtained in the registration when a subpoena has been issued by a competent authority.
This will be in relation to an investigation that a specific mobile number was used in the commission of a crime or it was used to commit an unlawful act and the complainant cannot ascertain the identity of the perpetrator.
Disclosing such information can only be done in accordance with the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012; in compliance with a court order or legal process upon finding of probable cause; or if there is a written consent of the subscriber.
Acts such as disclosing any data of an end-user, unless permitted by law; providing false or fictitious information and/or fraudulent documents; spoofing; sale of stolen SIM cards, among others, are punishable under the law.
The SIM Registration Law was meant to protect citizens from fraudulent acts perpetrated through phone calls and text messages.