Digicell Belize encouraging last-minute registrations

The Belize mobile operator Digicell has revealed that of its 190,000 subscribers, just 103,000 have registered their SIM card details under the government’s mandatory registration scheme. This means that up to 87,000 customers are at risk of having their account deactivated if they do not register by the 12 July deadline, local newspaper The Guardian reports. Under the Telecommunications Act Edition 2002, section 44 (5), the government issued a mandate on 12 October last year which required all cellular subscribers to register their details in an effort to curb cellphone crime. The initial deadline of 12 April was extended by three months and this runs out on 12 July. Digicell, which is owned by incumbent fixed line operator Belize Telemedia, is setting up kiosks in public places in an effort to encourage more subscribers to register their details. Digicell’s sole rival in the Belize wireless market, Smart, has not released figures relating to its own registration campaign.