Economic Reporter :
Tarana Halim has said selling unauthorised, biometrically verified SIM cards will invite $50 penalty per SIM.
The proposal will come into force within seven days and is aimed at curbing the use of SIM cards that are not registered with bona fide users.
On Thursday, the state minister of posts and telecommunications attended a meeting at the BTRC office to draw up the future course of action following the biometric registration of SIMs earlier this year.
In 2012, the government had issued a notification aimed at curbing the sale of prevaricated SIM cards.
A penalty of $50 per such SIM was also announced then. The move never proved much of a success.
Tarana refuted allegations that millions of unauthorised SIMs were in circulation. “The number of unauthorised SIMs will not number more than a few thousands.”
She said the government intends to deactivate these few prevaricated SIMS as well. “We are monitoring all operators closely. If any SIM has been inadvertently registered with the wrong biometric details the operators will have to bear penalty of $50 per SIM. A letter in this regard from the BTRC will be sent out to operators soon.”
Tarana Halim has said selling unauthorised, biometrically verified SIM cards will invite $50 penalty per SIM.
The proposal will come into force within seven days and is aimed at curbing the use of SIM cards that are not registered with bona fide users.
On Thursday, the state minister of posts and telecommunications attended a meeting at the BTRC office to draw up the future course of action following the biometric registration of SIMs earlier this year.
In 2012, the government had issued a notification aimed at curbing the sale of prevaricated SIM cards.
A penalty of $50 per such SIM was also announced then. The move never proved much of a success.
Tarana refuted allegations that millions of unauthorised SIMs were in circulation. “The number of unauthorised SIMs will not number more than a few thousands.”
She said the government intends to deactivate these few prevaricated SIMS as well. “We are monitoring all operators closely. If any SIM has been inadvertently registered with the wrong biometric details the operators will have to bear penalty of $50 per SIM. A letter in this regard from the BTRC will be sent out to operators soon.”
