No Delay to PrePay Registration Deadline

Later this year, Malaysia will start to block any PrePay mobile phone which has not had its ownership registered with the phone networks. Malaysia's telecoms regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has now reiterated its stand that there will be no extension deadline for the registration of all prepaid subscribers. All prepaid subscribers who have failed to meet the deadline of 15 December 2006 will have their lines suspended for a period of 14 days.

They will only be able to receive calls and make emergency calls during the grace period. The suspension will be lifted once the subscriber registers his prepaid number with his service provider. After the 14-day period, those who have failed to register will face the deactivation of their lines.

MCMC and the 3 telecommunications providers, Maxis, Celcom and Digi are presently conducting simulation exercises on the suspension and deactivation process.

To date 6,374,300 prepaid subscribers have registered. MCMC will start verifying the authenticity of these registrations with the National Registration Department.

Prepaid subscribers are advised to register with the authorised dealers of their respective telcos ahead of the deadline. The Service Provider has the right to forfeit the remaining credit balance in the SIM Card of an end-user in the event of deactivation. However, prior to the forfeiture of the remaining balance, the Service Providers are required to give notice to the end-users. MCMC, together with the telcos are also on a nationwide campaign to facilitate the registration process."

Posted to the site on 22nd August 2006