Directorate of Communications fined US$100,000 each to all four telecom operators for breaching rules and regulations to register new SIM cards, according to the department.

MPT, Ooredoo, Telenor and Mytel paid the fine and telecom operators are making negotiations with the department for further issues, said Zaw Min Oo, Chief External Relations Officer of Mytel.

“The department instructed us to make SIM registration when the buyers came to buy new SIM cards at our outlets. I think they saw the sale of SIM cards at shops outside and the new SIM cards are already registered. We are discussing with the department how to make new SIM registration process and we paid the fine,” he said.

The department enforced the registration of SIM cards in August, 2016 to secure mobile financial services, to protect effectively on public safety and to replace the SIM cards after damaged or lost them.

To register with their respective operators, users need to present identification documents such as national registration card (NRC), student identity card and driving license and foreigners need to bring a passport and copies of identification documents and a local address.