The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Cambodia (MPTC) has ruled that the country’s cellular subscribers must register their details with their mobile operator or at a police station within the next three months, or face the disconnection of their service, as the government launches a crackdown on unregistered SIM cards. The Phnom Penh Post reports that retailers or distributors could be arrested if they are found to be selling unregistered SIM cards under the new measures, which are aimed at curbing criminal activities carried out using mobile phones. ‘Telecom operators must tell customers, including foreigners, that they must complete ID documents within three months or their numbers will be automatically deleted,’ announced the National Police’s deputy chief, Chhay Sinarith, at a joint press conference with MPTC Director General Mao Chakyra. He added that up to 70% of the country’s roughly 20 million SIM cards are currently unregistered.
Responding to the measures, Smart Axiata’s CEO Thomas Hundt said: ‘We will work together with the industry and regulatory bodies to ensure that the directive is being complied to’. He added that while Smart’s dealers were already required to collect ID information from customers, some retailers were not observing the policy strictly, and said that the firm would take measures to ensure compliance.