De-activation of SIMs: NCC blocks 10.7m lines in 2 weeks

Sim-card

Following the ongoing de-activation of pre-registered Subscribers Identification Modules (SIM) cards on the network of mobile network operators in Nigeria, the Nigerian telecommunications regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday in Lagos disclosed that it has blocked about 10.7 million lines in the last two weeks.

From the about 38.78 million SIM cards found to be defective regarding improper registration details including poor finger prints, absence  of  facial information and other biometric issue,according to NCC,   the operators, after strict monitoring by the commission have bared   about 10.7 million SIMs.

The Head of the Compliance and Monitoring Unit of the Commission, Efosa Idehen, who spoke to Technology Journalists  in Lagos said the commission has since the expiration of the ultimatum given to operators on August 11, this financial year visited the  operators    to ensure compliance.

He said that    the directive given to the operators was that they should bar any line found to have incomplete registration and later urged the affected subscribers to come and complete their registration.

He told technology journalists that the commission, after due consultation with the National Security Adviser, NSA, and other stakeholders in the industry agreed that pre-registered SIMs and others found to be defective should be deactivated.

Vanguard