Telcos start blocking, deactivating unregistered SIM cards

Telcom companies say they have started blocking and deactivating SIM cards in line with the directive from Ministry of Communications And Digitalisation.

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said in a press statement today, Tuesday that the blocking and deactivation of data services of some subscribers commenced on Sunday, November 20 with a full blocking process due to kickoff Next Wednesday, November 30 2022.

The chamber said its members (AirtelTigo, MTN and Vodafone) are obliged by the directive by the ministry to “completely deactivate all subscriber SIMs, which have not completed the biometric capture registration step.”

It thus appealed to the general public to complete the process to avoid having their numbers blocked.

The ministry had announced on November 11, 2022 that measures to be implemented by Operators.

“Since November 20, 2022, our members have been blocking data services for all subscribers who have only completed stage one (linkage to Ghana Card) but not stage two (biometric capture) of the SIM registration process, as directed by the ministry.”

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“The Chamber is encouraging all subscribers who have acquired Ghana cards but are yet to complete stage two (biometric capture) to do so before November 30, 2022.”

“Our members are obliged by the directive to completely deactivate all subscriber SIMs which have not completed the biometric capture registration step by the said date,” it added.