NTC warns vs sale of pre-registered SIM cards

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MANILA, Philippines — The government reiterated its warning against the sale of pre-registered SIM cards and illegal forms of assisted registration, noting the sanctions that await those who do it.

In a meeting with telecommunications companies, SIM distributors, and dealers, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) addressed issues surrounding the sale of pre-registered SIM cards and other forms of assisted registration, which violate Republic Act (RA) 11934.

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RA 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, mandates strict adherence to guidelines on SIM card registration and distribution to enhance national security.

NTC said in a statement on Friday that their representatives, during the meeting, emphasized that engaging in these unlawful activities could result in criminal charges, with penalties of up to six years of imprisonment or fines up to P300,000, or both.

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The commission also highlighted that, aside from violating regulatory norms, selling pre-registered SIM cards and illegal forms of assisted registration also pose a threat to national security.

“The NTC is committed to ensuring the integrity of SIM registration processes across the telecommunications industry,” said NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez, as quoted in the statement.

She added, “Through these dialogues, we aim to clarify regulatory requirements and expectations while fostering cooperation among telcos, distributors, and dealers to uphold the law.”

NTC added that the meeting marks the first in a “series of initiatives” rolled out to help their stakeholders understand the provisions and obligations under RA 11934.

It was attended by representatives from Smart Communications, DITO Telecommunity, Megasmart One, CommWorks, Inc., Oxford Distributors, Inc. and Mobile First. The meeting with Globe Telecom, Inc. and its distributors is also set for this week.