TRA announces timeframe for reregistering SIM cards

TRA has given a timeframe of 18 months for subscribers to reregister their SIM cards under its ‘My Number, My Identity’ programme.

The process is divided into six stages to ensure that all of the users have successfully completed their registration during the timeframe.

Everyone with a mobile phone must go to a du or Etisalat shop with their passport or national ID card to prove they still have their phone’s SIM card.

“The TRA had introduced a number of procedures to facilitate the process of transferring the SIM cards from the actual owners to the actual users. Thus, the TRA will help attain an easy and flawless procedure to successfully activate the service and supervise the implementation process by the two operators,” Mohammad Nasser Al Ganim, TRA Director General, said in a statement.

Etisalat will begin SIM card registration for its mobile customers from 17th of this month while du was not available to comment. Etisalat has around 105 sales outlets and du has around 46 outlets, distributed throughout the UAE for everyone’s convenience.

The campaign highlights the importance of the mobile subscribers’ role to protect their SIM cards to maintain their privacy; these should not be given out to other users to avoid any misuse that may occur, since the registered owner of the number will be legally and financially accountable.

The TRA “will monitor the registration process so that it is as per the policies and procedures,” he said.

Subscribers are expected to fully update their data and ensure that the SIM cards they’re using are registered under their names