‘56.56% done’: SIM Registration tally hits 95M — NTC

The number of registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in the Philippines has breached 95 million, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reported on Tuesday, May 9. (NTC / Manila Bulletin File Photo)
NTC’s data showed that there are now 95,029,414 registered cards, which is equivalent to about 56.56 percent of the 168,016,400 SIMs nationwide. Of the public telecommunication entities (PTEs), Smart Communications Inc. still has the highest number of registrants at 44,982,292. Globe Telecom Inc., on the other hand, has 43,709,775 while Dito Telecommunity has 6,337,347 registered cards so far. “SIM registration is free of charge to all. All existing SIMs, including those of postpaid subscribers are required to be registered,” NTC stressed.

SIM registration target, deadline

Earlier in April, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said they are aiming to register at least 100 million SIM cards across the archipelago. The mandatory registration, which was supposed to end on April 26, has been extended for 90 more days or until July 25, 2023. Given this extension, the DICT warned of a possible increase in electronic communication-aided crimes such as mobile text scams and phishing, as scammers were given an extra 90-day period to continue these activities, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy explained. “Please be reminded that all unregistered SIMs shall be automatically deactivated, and will not be able to use digital [applications] and other services that require two-step verification,” the DICT warned on Tuesday.