The Zambia
Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) ordered mobile phone users to register their SIM
cards with service providers.
ZICTA warned that failure to
register SIM cards after the deadline would result in SIM deactivation, leaving
subscribers unable to communicate. The Copperbelt
Province-based Flava FM community radio station initially reported that the
actions of ZICTA were in compliance with the Information Communication
Technologies (ICT) Act No.15 of 2009 and the Statutory Instrument on the
Registration of Electronic Communication Apparatus No. 65 of 2011.
There are three mobile service providers in Zambia currently;
MTN, Airtel, and state-owned CellZ. All
three essentially provide pay-as-you-go services, meaning that mobile phone
customers can acquire SIM cards anonymously and pay for air time as and when
they need it which according to the government official has to stop from now
onwards.
Many Zambians like other African mobile phone subscribers rely
on their mobile phones to access the Internet. This is critical, given that
dial-up and broadband services are not only expensive but poorly distributed
throughout the country. The new requirement will also make it much easier for
government actors to identify cell phone users, a change that could lead to
infringement on user privacy.
Tech360 Correspondent