NTC, Telcos Review Legality of Deactivating Services and Apps for Unregistered SIM Numbers

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) along with telecommunications companies is currently reviewing the legal and technical feasibility of gradually deactivating telecommunication services for unregistered SIM users.

According to NTC Deputy Commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan, the commission is working closely with telcos to study if such a maneuver is legally and technically feasible, along with the possibility of potential time constraints.

The move comes after Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy announced the possibility of enforcing partial and gradual loss of telco services, including moves such as the limiting of access an unregistered number has on some social media platforms and services during the 90-day period. So consumers will experience the consequences of failing to register their numbers. These moves are designed to let unregistered SIM card owners experience the disadvantages of having unregistered numbers.

The NTC is aiming to have a final study ready for release within the next week.

The Supreme Court rejected the temporary restraining order (TRO) plea led by journalists, press freedom activists, and data privacy advocates on Tuesday.

However, the NTC has yet to receive an official notice from the higher court regarding the plea. Salvahan stated that the constitutionality of this move does not impinge on any rights, but the NTC defers its right to comment on the issue due to the pending petition filed before the Supreme Court.

The move to gradually deactivate telecommunication services for unregistered SIM users is an attempt to incentivize SIM registration. While the law is silent on the legality of partial deactivation within the registration period, the NTC aims to release a final study or resolution on the incentive’s legal and technical workability within the next week.

The constitutionality of this move is yet to be determined, pending a petition filed before the Supreme Court. (GFB)