Bangladesh to disconnect unregistered SIMs soon
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Bangladesh’s telecom minister Tarana Halim has revealed that SIMs that remain unregistered with biometric authentication will be deactivated shortly after the April 30 registration deadline.
The minister said the unregistered SIMs will at first be deactivated for three hours on May 1 as a warning.
SIMs that remain unregistered will be deactivated permanently “in a very short time” thereafter, she said.
Only around 70 million of the nation’s 130 million mobile users have currently reregistered their SIMs through the biometric authentication system. But Tarana expressed hope that the registration process will be complete by the deadline.
Bangladesh introduced the requirement to register SIMs with biometric authentication as part of efforts to prevent criminal activities including the illegal operation of VoIP businesses. Nearby Pakistan has already introduced such a requirement.
The government, regulator BTRC and operators are now working to raise awareness among mobile users about the need to reregister their SIMs in time for the deadline.
Questions & Answers
Q.How many mobile users in Bangladesh have completed the biometric registration process so far?
How many mobile users in Bangladesh have completed the biometric registration process so far?
Around 70 million of Bangladesh's 130 million mobile users have currently reregistered their SIMs using the biometric authentication system. This means 60 million users still need to complete the process before the deadline.
Q.What is the initial consequence for SIMs that are not registered by the deadline?
What is the initial consequence for SIMs that are not registered by the deadline?
SIMs that are not registered by the April 30 deadline will initially be deactivated for three hours on May 1 as a warning. This is intended to encourage users to complete their registration.
Q.What is the primary reason for introducing the biometric SIM registration requirement?
What is the primary reason for introducing the biometric SIM registration requirement?
The requirement for biometric SIM registration was introduced to help prevent criminal activities. This includes efforts to curb illegal operations, such as unauthorised VoIP businesses, which have been a concern.
Q.What steps are being taken to ensure more users register their SIMs by the deadline?
What steps are being taken to ensure more users register their SIMs by the deadline?
The government, regulator BTRC, and mobile operators are collaborating to increase awareness among mobile users. They are working to inform people about the importance and necessity of reregistering their SIMs in time.
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