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PURA warns unregistered SIM card holders

May 15, 2012, 11:59 AM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) at the weekend reminded the public that the deadline for all SIM card registration is 15 June 2012.

Come 15 June 2012, unregistered SIM cards owners will be notified either through a call or via SMS. Following that notification, one must register or have his or her mobile phone cut off.

“After your SIM card is blocked, and you are still reluctant to register then your SIM card will be de-activated,” said the director-general of PURA, Abdoulie Jobe.

Speaking at a press conference held at the PURA office, Jobe said the purpose of the meeting was to update journalists on SIM card registration, which is at the final stage.

The SIM card registration project started on 15 April 2011, and is being coordinated by PURA, which has made it mandatory to register all SIM cards since 15 January 2012.

The PURA DG gave a brief overview of the project’s progress, including its challenges and benefits.

Jobe announced that the campaign is done in partnership with the IEC and the department of Immigration.

The SIM card registration process is in three stages, namely registration, after the registration the operators will send the data to PURA, which will later forward the data to the IEC and the department of immigration to verify that documents used to register SIM cards, such as the national ID cards and voters’ card, were valid.

He challenged all persons to take up the responsibility and ownership of the registration exercise, as “this is a national project”.

He also stated that PURA staff are engaged in sensitizing the people on the SIM card registration exercise countrywide, in collaboration with mobile phone operators in the country.

Sali Bittaye, a telecommunications engineer, told journalists that PURA and the GSM operators are currently on SIM card registration upcountry to ensure everyone is covered.

She said the exercise started on 15 April 2012 and will end on 1 June 2012.

Mr Sompo Ceesay at PURA also spoke on the importance of correct data, while urging the public to register as the deadline gets nearer.