The Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said today (16 May) that between 95 million and 96 million mobile SIMs had been registered across the country by 10 May, with its secretary, Ivan John Uy, now quoted as saying DICT does not expect the figure to climb above 100 million by the extended deadline of 25 July 2023.
In a TV interview the official said he estimated that the realistic completion rate was already at around 95% or 96% of those SIMs that will ultimately be registered – some way short of the roughly 168 million SIMs known to be present in the Philippines. However, the government is aware it is unlikely now to see anything like full take-up, and back in April the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) admitted that the government is not aiming for a 100% registration. Failure to register will result in the deactivation of SIMs.