Telecom

Tanzania deactivates 970k+ sim cards, gives grace period for verification

Tanzania deactivates 970k+ sim cards, gives grace period for verification
Tuesday, 21 February 2023 18:53

(Ecofin Agency) - The last SIM verification campaign was due to end on January 31, but the government extended the deadline to February 13 to allow all citizens using telecom services to get comply with the rules.

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has deactivated  970,046 unregistered SIM cards, Semu Mwakyanjala, the regulator's chief communications officer, announced over the weekend.

The telecom subscribers' identification campaign ended at midnight on February 13 with 60.47 million SIM cards verified out of 61.44 million. Telecom operators immediately began suspending telecom services for all lines that had not yet been identified in accordance with TCRA guidelines. Suspended lines can be reactivated within 90 days if owners complete the verification procedures.

The Tanzanian telecom regulator has been trying to enforce the SIM card registration laws since 2019. The first telecom subscriber identification operation took place from May 1, 2019, to January 20, 2020, followed by a massive crackdown that resulted in millions of SIM cards being deactivated.

The Tanzanian government's efforts to have telecom subscribers' SIM cards verified are justified by the increase in mobile fraud in the country. According to the TCRA, Tanzania recorded a total of 12,613 fraudulent practices committed using SIM cards between October and December 2022. The practices included SIM box fraud, identity theft, financial scams, etc.

By verifying telecom subscribers, the country expects to combat growing cybercrime and update the databases of active SIM cards to improve reporting on the performance of the Tanzanian telecommunications sector.

Isaac K. Kassouwi

On the same topic
Senegal’s president met with Axian Group to discuss digital transformation plans. Axian aims to grow telecom and fintech services through its brand YAS...
• PalmPay plans to enter South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Tanzania by late 2025• The fintech already handles over 15 million daily transactions in...
This initiative reflects ECOWAS’s commitment to a results-driven, people-centred digital transformation agenda. By laying the groundwork for a unified and...
• MTN to distribute 1.2 million 4G smartphones at $5.42 for prepaid users.• Move supports South Africa’s plan to phase out 2G and 3G by 2027.•...
Most Read
01

Tanzania will now require all local transactions to be priced and paid in Tanzanian shillings. ...

Tanzania Bans Use of Foreign Currencies for Domestic Transactions
02

KoBold Metals, the U.S.-based mining company backed by heavyweight investors including Bill Gates an...

KoBold Metals Steps Up to Secure Manono Lithium Deposit in DR Congo
03

This initiative reflects ECOWAS’s commitment to a results-driven, people-centred digital transformat...

ECOWAS, World Bank Launch Regional Workshop to Advance Digital Integration
04

• MTN to distribute 1.2 million 4G smartphones at $5.42 for prepaid users.• Move supports South...

MTN South Africa to Sell 4G Smartphones for $5 to Boost Network Upgrade
05

• PalmPay plans to enter South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Tanzania by late 2025• The fintech...

Nigeria’s PalmPay to Expand into 4 African Countries by End of 2025
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.