Some 1 million pre-paid SIM cards deregistered over breaches

Around 1 million non-compliant pre-paid SIM cards have been deregistered by telecommunications service providers as of October, the Office of the Communications Authority said. 

The office on Tuesday conducted a new round market surveillance and publicity and education activities around Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po. 

Staff also distributed pamphlets to the public and traders to remind them not to use, purchase or sell pre-paid SIM cards from unknown sources or allegedly having completed real-name registration. 

“Up to the end of October 2023, telecommunications service providers had deregistered around 1 million non-compliant PPS cards and rejected around 360,000 registration requests owing to the failure to provide information that meets the registration requirements,” a spokesman for the office said. 

“The office will continue to request telecommunications service providers to enhance their registration platforms and strengthen sample checks of the registration information, including expediting the introduction of the government’s ‘iAM Smart’ application to verify the identity of the registrants,” the spokesman also said. 

The office reminded the public to complete real-name registration with their own original identity document, and not to purchase or resell registered pre-paid SIM cards to avoid loss and criminal liability. 

The office also urged traders not to assist any person in using the identity document of any third party in completing real-name registration, and not to sell pre-paid SIM cards allegedly having completed registration.