What happens to unregistered SIMs?

THE  law requiring registration of all SIM cards is set to take effect tomorrow, December 27, in the hopes of reducing the growing number of fraudulent schemes in the country.

All existing users will be given 180 days to register their SIMs. These include both postpaid and prepaid SIM users. The NTC said the registration may be extended for a period not exceeding 120 days. 

Telecommunication firms have set up online portals to facilitate the registration. 

The law

Failure to register active SIM cards within the provided period will result in automatic deactivation of the cards. 

Republic Act No. 11934, otherwise known as the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, requires all SIM end-users to register their information with their respective Public Telecommunications Entity as a prerequisite to activation.

In its Implementing Rules and Regulations released by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), all SIMs, including embedded SIMs (eSIMs) and other variations like SIMs intended for data-only, fixed wireless broadband modem, wireless local loop, machine-to-machine service, and Internet of Things must be registered.

According to the IRR, automatic deactivation pertains to “the automated process of rendering a SIM incapable of being used for outgoing and incoming calls, internet access, or sending and receiving messages.”

New SIM cards will be sold in an inactive mode starting tomorrow, December 27. These SIMs may only be activated once users complete the registration process.

Deactivated SIMs may only be reactivated through registration. The reactivation process must be done not later than five days after the SIM’s automatic deactivation.

Penalty

If the end-user fails or refuses to comply with the implementation of the SIM Registration Act without a valid reason, fines will be imposed.

First time offenders will be required to pay a fine not less than P100,000 but not more than P300,000. Second offenses are subject to a fine not lower than P300,000 but not exceeding P500,000. The third and subsequent offenses shall be penalized with a P500,000 to P1,000,000 fine.

SIM cards may also be deactivated through various means, such as the reported death of an end-user, loss or theft, or if the SIM was used to facilitate fraudulent activities.

The requirements

With the SIM Registration Act taking effect tomorrow, the following are the information required for the electronic registration of SIM cards.

By individual end-user

1. Full name
2. Date of birth
3. Sex
4. Present or official address
5. Type of ID presented
6. ID Number presented

By juridical entity

1. Business name
2. Business address
3. Full name of Authorized Signatory

By foreign national end-user

1. Full name
2. Nationality
3. Date of birth
4. Passport
5. Address in the Philippines
6. For Persons of Concern (POCs), the Type of Travel or Admission Document presented
7. ID Number or Number of Document presented

Registrants should also input the assigned mobile number of the SIM with its serial number. 

Aside from these requirements, end-users should present a valid government issued identification card or other similar document with photo, such as:

• Passport
• Philippine Identification System ID, or the Philippine Identification Card
• Social Security System ID
• Government Service Insurance System e-Card
• Driver’s License
• National Bureau of Investigation clearance
• Police clearance
• Firearms’ License to Own and Possess ID
• Professional Regulation Commission ID
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
• Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ID
• Bureau of Internal Revenue ID
• Voter’s ID
• Senior Citizen’s card
• Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card
• Persons with Disabilities card

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