Mobile users must verify SIM cards by tomorrow or face restrictions

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has mandated that individuals possessing between six and 100 SIM cards must verify their identities at mobile operators’ service centres by tomorrow, July 11, or face restrictions on outgoing calls and text messages.

Out of a total of 3,981,251 SIM cards, 1,635,407 had their identities verified as of yesterday, leaving over 2.3 million cardholders to complete the verification process by the deadline.

This initiative is part of the NBTC’s efforts to curb the use of mobile phones for criminal activities.

Acting Secretary-General of the NBTC, Trairat Viriyasirikul stated that the regulator is enhancing identity verification measures and tracking mobile service usage, following the implementation of measures earlier this year.

“These measures, enforced since January 16, require holders of more than five SIM cards to register their identities at mobile operators’ service centres or via a mobile app.”

The announcement categorises cardholders into two groups. The first group, consisting of those with between six and 100 SIM cards, must verify their identities by tomorrow. The second group, those holding more than 100 cards, had a verification deadline of February 14.

Failure to verify identities by the deadlines results in the suspension of the SIM cards. Owners then have 30 days to complete the verification, or the cards will be permanently terminated.

The NBTC has prioritised the second group, given the higher potential for these SIM cards to be used in fraudulent activities. This group was given 30 days for verification after the NBTC’s January 16 announcement.

Within this second group, 5,078,283 SIM cards required identity verification, but only 3,914,057 were verified by the February 14 deadline. This left over 1 million cards suspended pending further verification, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, mobile bank account holders can continue using their services uninterrupted as authorities work to ensure the names of account holders match those of phone subscribers, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES). This initiative aims to tackle the misuse of bank accounts by fraudsters.