Pakistan Regulator Orders Operators to Improve ID Verification

Pakistan's Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed the mobile phone operators to speed up the process of streamlining the process of verifying the identity of existing mobile phone users and take strong measures against the franchises and sub-agents found selling mobile phone connections without the required proof of ID.

Pakistan now requires all subscribers to prove their identity before taking out new phone subscriptions, and wants existing users to register their details as soon as possible.

The Chairman PTA expressed that PTA Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the subject matter should be followed in letter and spirit. He directed the companies to take stringent actions to ensure that sub-franchises of the companies also follow the procedure laid down by PTA. He also mentioned that franchises be cancelled if they are not following the SOP.

On this occasion, CEOs and senior officials of the companies briefed the Authority on measures already taken by them. They said that franchises are being checked to ensure PTA's directions regarding sale of connections on unverifiable antecedents. They said that they were sending SMS to their customers to get their connections transferred in their names if they have not done it before.

Posted to the site on 16th August 2007