During the recent meeting between telecom operators and Congo’s telecom regulatory authority (ARPTC), the vice-Prime Minister, Minister of posts, telecommunications and NICTs, Thomas Luhaka Losendjol, demanded the deactivation of all non-identified SIM cards starting from December 28, 2015.

Before allowing users to access the various telecom services, the government demanded all these users to identify themselves, for the maintaining of public security and order, reveals the release which was published by the Ministry of interior and security and that of posts, telecommunication and NICTs, following the meeting.

DR Congo has since 2002, instituted the identification of subscribers on telecom services through the n°013/2002 framework law of 16 October 2002 on telecommunications. This law was reinforced by the decision of ARPTC’s board on identification of mobile users. However, it was only in 2011 that this law truly became effective.