SIM Card Identification
At the expiration of the period for SIM Card Registration on June 30, 2011, the National Communications Authority (NCA) announced a 90-day mop-up period following which a review of progress of the entire exercise will be conducted with a view to bringing it to closure.
As we approach the end of the 90-day mop-up period on September 30, 2011, the NCA wishes to thank all telecommunications Operators for their co-operation, subscribers for their commitment and the people of Ghana for their support in undertaking this massive registration exercise and thereby improving the opportunity for enhanced customer experience.
As was contained in the statement announcing the mop-up period, the aim in undertaking the exercise, among other things, was to empower subscribers as bona fide owners of their telephone numbers and in turn strengthen them to demand better services. By registering their numbers, subscribers improve their chances of seeking replacement of their SIM cards in the event of loss.
The registration was also aimed at increasing subscribers’ power of choice in a more competitive market noting that one of the reasons for the registration exercise was to pave way for the introduction of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) which has since been launched with a good degree of success. At the commencement of SIM Card Registration, MNP was an anticipated euphoria. Today, it is a reality of the subscriber’s life.
As industry regulators, we are enjoined by law to ensure that Operators maintain a reliable database of all telephone subscribers. This provides a platform for the efficient functioning of other electronic communications services including mobile money transfer and other such services since the identity of SIM Card Owners can easily be verified.
In the course of the review process, NCA has undertaken constructive dialogue with various stakeholders with a view to making available to customers other benefits of SIM Card Registration.
One such benefit is incorporating into the SIM Card Registration an enhanced facility for the protection of customer investment in handsets and other devices through voluntary registration of their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).
The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI is a number, usually unique, to identify mobile phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone. It can also be displayed on the screen of the phone by entering *#06# into the keypad on most phones.
The IMEI number is used by communication networks to identify valid devices and therefore can be used for stopping a stolen phone from accessing the network. For example, if a mobile phone is stolen, the owner can call his or her network provider and instruct them to "blacklist" the phone using its IMEI number. This renders the phone useless and makes phone theft unprofitable.
Thus, we are aiming to make the SIM Card Registration even more meaningful for consumers and the people of Ghana. As soon as all systems for the enhanced SIM Card Registration are completed, we shall announce arrangements for bringing final closure to the exercise.
We wish to thank all stakeholders of the communications industry for their support and to encourage any subscriber with comments on enhancing customer satisfaction to contact the Corporate and Consumer Affairs Division of the National Communications Authority.
The NCA reiterates its commitment to improving the communications industry and ensuring better services to the consumer.
ISSUED BY
DIRECTOR GENERAL
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
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The
National Communications Authority (NCA) has given a grace period of 90
days to persons whose data submitted during the SIM registration
exercise faced challenges.
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The National Communications Authority (NCA) announces for the information of the General Public that from 1st July, 2010, ALL Mobile Phone Operators in the country will start collecting information aimed at identifying existing and new subscribers to their respective networks. Existing mobile phone subscribers will continue using SIM cards/chips as they are until 30th June 2011 by which time they expected to have completed filling in their details with respective Mobile Phone Operators.
Read More Ghana as part of the global village has embraced information and
communications technology to be one of the driving forces for economic
growth. This we have done through the liberalisation of the
telecommunication industry, having introduced competition by licensing
six mobile network operators and several internet service providers.
After more than a decade of this competitive environment, we can now
boast of being one of the countries in Sub-Sahara Africa with a very
favourable tele-density. By the NCA’s figures, as of December 2009, more
than 65% of the Ghanaian population now have access to some form of
communication – voice or data communication.
Read More Owners who register their SIM may enjoy the following benefits:
Getting your phone number back easily: if you lose your phone or
have it stolen, you can have a new chip with the same number easily
since that number has been registered in your name. The information that
you provide to your network operator during the registration period is
enough proof of the fact that you own that number.
Read More The project aims at getting both new and existing phone subscribers
to consensually provide their identification details to the network
operators. It is planned to take 18 months starting from Tuesday the
28th of January 2010 and shall end on 30th June 2011.
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