Zantel launches new awareness Program of Sim Registration

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 18-02-2014: Zantel Tanzania has launched awareness program about the importance of sim subscriber’s registration exercise beginning early this week to comply with the Law that requires mobile companies to register all SIM card users.

According to the statement from the company, the program is aimed to protect subscribers from misuse of communication services, and 

also enable customers to be identified for using services like mobile banking, mobile money transfer and for utilities payment, like water, electricity, pay- TV etc.

‘This exercise will also ensure that all our existing customers and also new customers joining Zantel are properly informed and thus served better by our company’’ said Pratap Ghose, Zantel ’s Chief Executive Officer.

The registration of SIM card is mandatory under the Electronics and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA) of 2010, and, under this law it is an offence to sell or distribute an unregistered SIM card, to use an unregistered SIM card, to fail to record sale of a SIM card and to provide false information of statement during SIM card registration.

To register their SIM cards, subscribers are required to give their full name, produce identity document number( i.e National ID, Voter Card, Driving license, Passport, Work ID, etc.), physical / postal address, gender, date of birth and alternative contacts.

“We understand that the customers have to make this extra effort to produce their ID or fill in other details, but this measure is finally for the greater good of all and the country as a whole” added Pratap.

This SIM registration exercise is meant to curb the rising incidences of mobile phone perpetrated crimes, including kidnappings, fraud and hate messages.

‘’We thus call upon all our subscribers who have not registered their SIM card to do so immediately, and for those who want to know their registration status or re-verify their details should dial  *106 #, in order to keep enjoying our services’’ insisted Pratap.

In addition, Pratap said Zantel has now made it easier for its customers to register by having additional agents stationed countrywide. "This is in addition to our Zantel Shops, Dealer and EzyPesa outlets that are all authorized to register customers. In case the customer want to know the address of one of these customer care touch points, they should just dial 101 (English) and 100 (Swahili)“ insisted Pratap.