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The National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA) has announced a sweeping regulatory overhaul that will impose strict penalties on telecom operators and phase out unregistered SIM cards, marking a significant move to tie mobile phone usage to national identity.
The new Subscribers Regulations 2025, which take effect following a six-month transition period, mandate that operators face a fine of 25,000 new leones (Le25 million in old currency) for every unregistered or pre-activated SIM found in circulation.
NaTCA Director of Corporate and Industry Affairs Abdul Ben-Foday stated that the initiative is designed to combat rising fraud and identity theft by linking SIM cards to holders’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) through collaboration with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA).
A progressive ban will be applied to non-compliant SIMs following enforcement raids. The restrictions will escalate from a suspension of outgoing calls to a total block on incoming calls, culminating in permanent removal from the network.
The agency has issued public advisories urging citizens to avoid responding to unsolicited scam messages, verify requests directly with known contacts, and report suspected fraudsters to the Police
