Unregistered SIMs will be blocked after Nov 15

Mobile phone users, who would fail to re-register their numbers by November 15, will have their numbers blocked, the telecom division said today.

The blocked subscribers can resume the service immediately after they can provide their real documents, the division said in a press release.

All the mobile phone operators began re-registration process for their subscribers from October 16 through sending SMS to the customers to submit required information and documents.

The process will continue up to November 15. After that date all the unregistered SIMs will be blocked, according to the release.

For re-registration, subscribers of Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Teletalk need to type their national ID number, date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) and full name and send it to 1600, the release also said.

Subscribers of Citycell need to write ‘U’ and then write their ID number, date of birth, full name and send it to 1600.

According to the government release, anyone can register a SIM if they are aged 18 years or more. Those who are under 18, they can register it for their guardian’s name to be able to use it.

Operators informed they are taking preparation for introducing biometric system that will start from November 1 on trial basis in their customer care centres. The final project will start from December 16 according to the plan.

A senior executive of Robi said they have already selected the vendor to procure biometric instruments and the whole process will begin on time.