Zim: Potraz orders penalties against non-compliant subscribers
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) said it would no longer extend the deadline for sim card registration after initially extending it from 31 August 2010 to 28 February 2011.
A Potraz statement said the regulator had already directed network operators to apply punitive measures to force subscribers to comply with the directive before the new deadline.
These measures, said Potraz, included "penalties on unregistered subscribers which include but (are) not limited to recharge restrictions."
Combating crime
Potraz issued the directive for operators to register their subscribers in June last year, saying all mobile service providers had been directed to ensure that all post-paid and prepaid mobile phone users should be registered with their mobile operators to combat criminal activities and abuse of mobile telecommunications services by users.
Failure to comply by deadline will result in the disconnection of lines.
Potraz said registration would help to combat transmission of obscene, offensive and threatening messages, as well as the spread of falsehoods for the purposes of causing annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety to others.
About Dumisani Ndlela
Dumisani Ndlela is a Zimbabwean journalist specialising in business and financial reporting, with experience reporting on commodities, stock and financial markets, advertising, marketing and the media. He has previously reported from a number of regional countries as well as from the UK and Germany on commodities and regional integration. He can be contacted on ku.oc.oohay@aleldnd.
