NICTA proposes registration of pre-paid SIM cards

Papua New Guinean telecoms watchdog National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) has launched a consultation on draft regulations for the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in the country. In its proposals NICTA notes that that the PNG government authorities are ‘concerned enough about possible links between anonymous pre-paid SIM card mobile phones and criminal and terrorist activities to make SIM registration mandatory. To that end, the public consultation paper introduces a mandatory registration requirement for pre-paid SIM cards, with the paper also proposing a set of regulatory strategies ‘that could prove to be equally or more effective in achieving the objective of public safety and security’. Submissions by interested parties are required by the 19 August 2013 deadline set by NICTA.