The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is reassuring people of the benefits of SIM card registration. A mandatory registration is expected to help the country combat cybercrime and improve its effective regulation of the national technology landscape, according to Emilia Nghikembua, CRAN's Director General.
Government officials announced in October 2021 that they would launch a national SIM card registration campaign in accordance with the Communications Act issued in March of that year. Until 31 December, the regulator will continue its national SIM card registration awareness campaign. For the time being, the campaign is facing reluctance from the population.
Registries will begin on 1 January 2023 and last for 12 months, at the end of which unregistered SIM cards will be deactivated. In the meantime, the incumbent operator MTC has started a voluntary SIM card registration campaign for its customers. As soon as Namibia launches the program, it will join a number of African countries like Kenya, Nigeria and Lesotho that have developed and implemented such policies to register telecom subscribers. South Africa is currently preparing a similar process, and these initiatives reflect the ambition of governments to combat the rising incidence of cybercrime across the continent.
According to the regulator, the registration of SIM cards should create a comprehensive database that will enable effective regulation of the sector to promote transparency, encourage competition, implement fair pricing regimes and ensure the quality of service for the benefit of the user.
