BTA: two million pre-paid mobile users register their details

The director of communications and public relations at the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), Twoba Koontse, has revealed that over two million of the country’s pre-paid mobile subscribers have registered their phone numbers. Pre-paid customers of Botswana’s three wireless operators – Mascom Wireless, Orange Botswana and BTC Mobile (beMOBILE) – were given until 31 December 2009 to register their SIM cards or face the disconnection of their service. From 1 January 2010 new pay-as-you-go SIMs will be activated only after electronic registration has taken place. Koontse added that the registration of numbers will help the country better plan and expand the telecoms industry, as well as help curb crime.