The Namibia Government, on Friday, announced an extension of the deadline for mandatory Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration, by three months.
The government initially set Dec. 31 as the deadline.
The move, which started in June, will bolster security measures, tackle crime and facilitate digital services.
In a statement, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga, said the registration period for existing customers will be extended from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2024.
According to Mushelenga, 1,491,349 out of 2,383,920 active subscribers, or about 62.5 per cent of active SIM card users, have completed the registration process as of Dec. 27.
The decision to extend the deadline followed stakeholder consultations. The extension will ensure full compliance with the registration mandate, the minister said.
He emphasized that the process is not indefinite.
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The International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations Agency, of which Namibia is a member, mandated the SIM registration.
Many African countries have already complied with this requirement.
Mandatory SIM card registration is in line with international best practices. And Namibia now joins Lesotho, Malawi and 185 other countries worldwide that have already implemented mandatory SIM card registration.
Meanwhile, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia clarified that only essential information such as the customer’s name, address of residence and official identification documents will be required for registration.
This is in alignment with international standards.
Biometric data capture will no longer be mandatory. (Xinhua)
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