The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to register at least one million subscriber identity module (SIM) cards daily after the two-week test period.
From December 27 to January 9, telcos have registered 16.2 million SIMs — still a low turnout as there are currently 170 million SIM-based users.
“Our aim is to register at least one million SIMs every day. Currently, we are on track, but there could be a lull, and then a surge again once we are near the deadline,” Anna Mae Lamentillo, DICT undersecretary, said in her speech at the SIM Registration Complaint Center Hotline 1326 event yesterday.
Lamentillo said the first two weeks of the implementation of the SIM registration is considered a test period, wherein some glitches or technical issues are expected as the public telecommunications entities (PTE) finetune their respective processes.
Two weeks ago, DICT launched the Complaint Center Hotline to address the concerns of subscribers.
“During the first few days, we have monitored complaints surrounding the process, such as being unable to load the platform provided by the PTEs, being unable to complete the process, and other technical issues. This is actually the reason why the first two weeks of the SIM registration was launched as a test period, to give the PTEs ample time to adjust and improve their system,” Lamentillo added.
DICT noted a significant drop from an average of 95 complaints during the first week down to an average of 47 during the second week. Most of the concerns were about the SIM registration process, website malfunction or not loading, and where to register. There were also queries about how many SIMs subscribers can register, the deadline for registration, what to do when they entered the wrong details, and concerns about data privacy, the agency said.
DICT is also working with the PTEs and other government agencies, such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education, to facilitate the SIM registration and fast-track the process in areas with limited telecoms or internet access the soonest possible time, said Lamentillo.
