MTN Kick-Starts SIM Card Registration

Mawuena Trebarh

At the behest of the National Communication Authority (NCA), existing and new subscribers of cellular networks in the country are expected to register their SIM Cards before July 2010 for security reasons.

MTN, Ghana's leading telecommunications company, would be the first mobile network provider to kick start the SIM Card registration exercise.

The NCA issued a directive to all telecommunications operators in Ghana to register all existing subscribers by June 11 2011.

All operators are expected to register new subscribers on their network from July 1 2010.

At the launch of a nationwide subscriber registration and sensitization programme to raise public awareness about the exercise, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mawuena Trebarh said the company has over the years demonstrated its commitment to partnering government and regulatory agencies to ensure that it plays its role as an industry leader in the development of the country.

The exercise, which is in accordance with the recent directive of NCA, would cover both existing and new subscribers of MTN.

Ghana's leading communications operator maintains it would use the nationwide registration and sensitization programme to educate Ghanaians about the benefits of the exercise.

Ebenezer Asante, Sales and Distribution Executive further stated that MTN's strategy during the registration process would focus on accessibility by “ensuring that MTN registration centers are mounted in close proximity to our subscribers”.

The company, he said, would ensure an easy process devoid of long queues which fulfills the requirements of the directive and innovation.

“MTN will deploy the latest information technology for this exercise,” he added.

Mr Asante assured customers that MTN would continue to ensure the safety and security of subscribers' information as it has always done with other data.

MTN is currently the leading telephone company in Ghana with over eight million subscribers.

Shaibu Mills, General Manager in charge of Sales and Marketing, noted that subscribers have to walk into the offices of MTN in order to register their SIM cards.

Highlighting the simple process of the registration, he mentioned that subscribers would be required to submit their cell phone numbers, names, national identification cards or passport numbers and residential addresses, among others.

By Emelia Ennin Abbey