Unregistered SIM Card users will face a gradual service denial, including phone, SMS, data, and mobile banking, unless they register within the next 60 days.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has asked mobile carriers to take additional efforts to achieve 100 percent SIM registration compliance.
This comes after hundreds of Kenyans’ cell phone lines were disconnected after the SIM registration deadline of October 15, 2022 passed.
CAK Director General Ezra Chiloba, on the other hand, warned that the additional 60 days was not an extension, but rather a compliance measure, and that the lines would remain suspended.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the 60 days is not an extension, but a period for the mobile operators to take certain actions including denial of service to prompt further compliance,” he said in a statement to the press.
The Authority extended the deadline for updating SIM card registration details by six months on April 15th, this year, to enable Mobile Operators and subscribers more time to comply.
According to CAK, the Mobile Operators’ compliance levels have significantly improved during the time.
“In the last eight months, we have seen Safaricom’s compliance levels move from 52 percent to 93 percent while Airtel moved from 42 percent to 81.2 percent,” CAK said.
CAK stated that each Operator is required to maintain 100 percent compliance and that the Telkom Kenya issue is still being reviewed and that more information will be released after the review is completed.
“The Authority will undertake a compliance audit to ascertain the level of compliance. Any Mobile Operator found non-compliant shall be liable to regulatory measures including a penalty of up to 0.5 percent of their Annual Gross Turnover,” said CAK.
The Authority stated that it will hold more consultations with key policy and industry stakeholders on future policy, legal, and regulatory interventions to promote a more efficient, effective, and transparent process of enrolling subscribers for telecommunications and ICT services.
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