SIM registration deadline moved to Dec 15
The telecom regulator will extend for another 45 days, until Dec 15, the deadline for mobile operators’ franchise dealers and retail shops to use the new SIM registration with a biometric verification system.
The move came after the three major operators asked the regulator for an extension as they need to provide equipment to many dealers and retail shops, as well as train them on how to use the equipment.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said there are some 53,000 dealer and retail shops nationwide.
However, for the existing 2,000 dealers of all five mobile operators’ service across country, they must comply with the original NBTC order that all new SIM buyers, both for prepaid and postpaid systems, must register through a biometric verification system starting from Dec 15 this year.
“People who buy new SIM cards after Dec 15 will have two choices: biometric verification at an operator’s service shop, or the existing ‘two-snaps’ NBTC application at dealers or retail shops,” he said.
The regulator insisted after Feb 1 next year all new SIM buyers will have to register through the new system no matter the channel they use to buy.
Mr Takorn said NBTC’s board on Oct 31 passed a resolution to force all mobile operators to register new SIM sales via biometric verification starting on Dec 15.
Existing mobile SIM cards and SIM card sales before Dec 15 are exempted.
As of September 2017 there are 123.3 mobile subscribers in Thailand. Some 49.6 million are Advanced Info Service users, 34.1 million are True Move subscribers, 33.8 million are Total Access Communication users, 1.8 million are TOT subscribers and 400,000 are CAT Telecom subscribers.
Mr Takorn said 4 million SIM cards are sold per month on average.
He said the extension for retail shops helps prevent any possible turmoil from their inability to use the system.
“The NBTC does not want to track customers or violate their privacy,” he said. “The new registration system is aimed at creating a greater security benefit for users through mobile services, especially mobile banking.”