Mozambique: INCM deactivates more than three million SIM cards – Notícias

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Mozambique: INCM deactivates more than three million SIM cards – Notícias

2:11 CAT | 20 May 2021

File photo: Noticias

The National Institute of Communications of Mozambique (INCM) has, since 2020, deactivated more than three million improperly registered SIM cards, INCM spokesman Edmundo Manhiça has revealed in an interview with Radio Mozambique.

According to the INCM, there are nearly 16 million mobile phone subscribers in the country.

Edmundo Manhiça said that, among the main irregularities found were the use of false or expired identification documents.

He stressed that the communications regulatory authority remains committed to reducing fraud and other illicit acts involving cell phones.

The INCM in March terminated its awareness campaign against the sale of pre-registered SIM cards, which started in December last year. The campaign was led by a multi-sectorial team involving technicians from all three mobile phone networks operating in the country – Tmcel, Vodacom and Movitel.

In addition to individualised notifications, messages alerting users to the need to regularize their registrations were broadcast on television channels and radio stations, and via social networks and SMSs.

Another common irregularity found by the inspection team was the sale of pre-registered SIM cards, and sales agents signing the registration forms as witnesses. SIM cards registered in the name of third parties were also identified, with Maputo, Tete, Manica and Niassa provinces showing the highest number of infractions.

During the awareness campaign, the multi-sectoral team found that there was a need for more interventions of this kind, as the agents themselves still had many questions about the card registration process.

Many agents were unaware, for example, of the procedures to follow in a situation where the customer realizes that his document has reached the limit of registrations, without using the respective numbers.

There are also reports of citizens who delegate the registration process, supposedly out of ignorance of the law. In cases like these, agents are asked to fully comply with the law, in order to avoid sanctions later.

Source: Jornal Noticias