Mobile phone users in the UAE have 18 months to re-register their SIM cards or risk having their telephone services cut off as part of a new campaign aimed at cracking on illegal handsets. Users can register their SIM cards along with their passport or national ID at du or Etisalat registration points from July 17, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said in a statement.
“Mobile phone subscribers are expected to fully update their data and ensure that the sim cards they’re using are registered under their names,”
Operator Etisalat has 105 registration points across the UAE while du has 46, said the TRA. All customers will receive notification of the programme either through text message or phone call.
“Registration will be a very easy process and there will be a number of reminders before any phone could be cut off,” officials said.
“[Re-registration] prevents any unauthorised or criminal usage of sim cards and helps in curbing legal or social violations besides reducing frauds that have been noticed during the last few years.”
