DICT Declines Request to Extend SIM Registration Deadline

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has refused the request of telcos to extend the deadline for SIM registration, stating that owners have only until April 26 to complete the process. The DICT did not provide any specific reason for rejecting the request from Globe, Smart, and DITO Telecommunity.

The DICT emphasized the importance of registration, urging users to take advantage of the remaining week to register. Failure to register would lead to the deactivation of SIMs and eSIMs, thereby preventing users from making or receiving calls and text messages, as well as accessing mobile applications and digital wallets.

Data from the DICT as of April 20 showed that over 64 million users out of 168.097 million SIMs have already registered. Telcos had requested an extension of the deadline, citing low registration turnout.

The SIM Registration Act is also facing legal challenges, with a petition filed before the Supreme Court on Monday seeking to declare the mandatory registration as unconstitutional.

While the government has emphasized the importance of registration as a means of preventing criminal activities and protecting national security, critics have argued that the law violates users’ privacy rights and puts their personal data at risk. (GFB)