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SIM Card Regulation in Final Phase

The plan to regulate SIM cards was launched to redistribute idle numbers, reduce prank calls and control cyber crime.
The plan to regulate SIM cards was launched to redistribute idle numbers, reduce prank calls and control cyber crime.

Data from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology shows that up to September 21, the total number of SIM cards sold in Iran was an estimated 160 million, 78.6 million of which are in use.

The head of Iran’s Cyber Police has labeled the high number of SIM cards in operation “misconduct on behalf of the mobile phone operators,” ISNA reported.

General Kamal Hadianfar noted that in 30 million cases “either the owners are not clear or a single number has been sold more than once.”

A plan to regulate SIM cards was launched two years ago. In the first stage of the plan, those who owned more than 10 SIM cards were identified. The measure was taken to redistribute idle numbers and reduce prank calls. The last phase of the plan is being implemented.

The general added that “nearly 20 million SIM cards have been regulated while the status of another 10 million is under investigation.”

Following a ruling by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) each person is allowed nine SIM cards [from one mobile company] registered to their name.  The ruling, among other things, aims to control criminal activities.

A spokesperson from the CRA, Jahangir Asadi, recently said owners who have failed to complete the registration details for SIM cards sold to their names have until December 20 to comply. The details include the national identification number of owners and their home address, to name a few.

“There are 10 million such SIM cards which need to be put in order,” the official said.  

The spokesperson noted that owners of such SIMs would first receive a notification SMS following which they must take action and complete their information. If they fail to provide the registration  details before the deadline the SIMs will be disconnected from the network. 

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