WINDHOEK, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Namibia government on Friday announced the extension of the deadline for mandatory Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration, which was originally expected to end on Dec. 31, by three months.
The move, which started in June, is expected to 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 percent of active SIM card users, have completed the registration process as of Dec. 27.
The decision to extend the deadline followed stakeholder consultations and is aimed to ensure full compliance with the registration mandate, the minister said, emphasizing that the process is not indefinite.
SIM registration is required by the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations Agency, of which Namibia is a member, and 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, aligning with international standards, clarified that only essential information such as the customer's name, address of residence, and official identification documents will be required for registration. Biometric data capture will no longer be mandatory. ■
