Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that action will be taken under the Telecommunications Law if SIM cards are sold without registration at SIM card shops and online sale on September 27.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has issued this notice in exercise of the authority granted under subsection b of Section 88 of the Telecommunications Law.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications issued orders and instructions to be followed in the sale of SIM cards by mobile communication operators, in order to protect users from fraud and assist in the investigation of criminals in relation to financial services businesses based on mobile communication systems and e-commerce businesses and to protect users who are using mobile communication services correctly.
However, it was found that mobile SIM cards, which are not registered in accordance with the directive, are sold in SIM card shops, points of sales (POS) of mobile communication operators, in addition to mobile handset shops, markets, roadside shops and online sale. Because SIM cards can be bought and used without proper registration, the public who will buy and use them may not only be subject to fraud in relation to financial services connected to the SIM card, but also other online services, as well as difficulties in conducting investigations in accordance with the law in order to suppress crimes. In addition, as more crimes, terrorist activities and threats have been made on the communication network using unregistered SIM cards, national stability and law and order have been affected. Therefore, in relation to properly registering and selling SIM cards, not only mobile communication operators, dealers and stores that have signed legal contracts with them, but also the public, need to know and follow, it stated.
For this reason, in relation to the sale of mobile SIM cards, the shops of mobile communication operators, sales representatives and points of sales that have signed legal contracts with mobile communication operators must sell only after registering in accordance with the instructions on customer registration. In that sale, whether it is a newly issued SIM card or the currently distributed SIM card must be valid. No person shall sell SIM cards which are not registered or fraudulently registered or which are not registered in accordance with the customer registration instructions. Anyone who transfers a registered SIM card in accordance with the customer registration instructions must re-register in accordance with the customer registration instructions with the correct information of the user.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that anyone who is found to have violated any of the above requirements will be prosecuted under Section 72 of the Telecommunications Law.
