All prepaid phones must now be registered |02 April 2009

Principal secretary for Information Communications Technology Benjamin Choppy said the move is in line with international practice and aimed at reducing crimes that are committed through, or aided by, phone calls.
People who do not register their numbers will be disconnected on September 30, he said.

“We are doing it because of concerns expressed by law enforcement and security agencies internationally. We have been working and consulting with service providers for over two years now about the registration,” said Mr Choppy.

“All new prepaid cards sold now will need to be registered. Residents will need to produce their identity cards and foreigners their passports.”

He added that there will be no limit to the number of Sim cards a person can hold as long as they are registered.

Registration will be free, but the service providers will be at liberty to decide the method of registration.

Airtel customers who already had prepaid Sim cards before April 1 will need to fill in forms at the company’s offices in Victoria, Providence or on Praslin, said its public relations and communications manager Gail Talma Jumeau.

She said they do not want to put an extra burden on retailers “but the new starter packs already have a form which new clients can fill in, detach and give to the seller”.

Both Airtel and Cable & Wireless (C&W) said a new client needs to show a form of identification that has the person’s picture, for example an identity card, a driving licence or a passport.

Mrs Talma Jumeau said children under 18 cannot register a Sim card using their ID card because it has no photograph. However, minors can use a passport if they have one, or a parent or guardian can register the card on their behalf. 

“Customers need to bring along their Sim cards for us to verify,” she said.
Tourists can also use passports to identify themselves but Mrs Talma Jumeau advised them to ensure they destroy the Sim cards as they leave or arrange for the transfer of ownership with the company to avoid being liable for the possible misuse of the numbers registered under them.

“If the tourists have the R500 value card and think they will return within 12 months, the card will still be valid,” she said.

C&W’s marketing and communications manager David Deltel said clients need to visit its customer services centres in Victoria, Anse Royale, Grand Anse Praslin and on La Digue in person to complete the forms and “minors need to bring along a valid form of identification which contains their photograph”.

“If the identification document does not contain a photograph, they will need to bring along their national identity card and be accompanied by an adult witness who can vouch for their identity,” said Mr Deltel.

“This witness will also require a valid form of identification containing his or her photograph.”

Mr Deltel assured customers that their “personal and service details will remain confidential”.