The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said that it is open to extending the SIM registration deadline, but it must have a compelling reason to do so.
Smart, Globe, and DITO have all requested to extend the deadline for another 120 days, reasoning that subscribers need more time to secure valid IDs, which is needed for SIM registration.
However, the agency has responded and said in a statement that the April 26 deadline will remain, but they are not closed to the idea of extending it. According to a report from the Manila Times, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said in a radio interview that they will soon meet with the telecommunications companies and other stakeholders to discuss the SIM registration’s low turnout.
In the latest update from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), 168,016,400 SIMs have been registered as of April 20, 2023. The number accounts for only 45.79 percent of the total 168,977,773 subscribers nationwide. So far, Smart has the most registrants with 56.49 percent of its total, followed by Globe with 39.12 percent, and DITO with 36.98 percent.
If the deadline is not extended, all unregistered SIM cards will be deactivated after April 26. This will render them useless, unable to make voice calls, send text messages, and use other mobile data services. It will also affect all digital services that rely on a SIM card, including e-wallets like GCash and Maya, social media accounts, and banking accounts. Here’s a rundown of what happens if you fail to register your SIM card.
If you have not yet registered your SIMs, you can do so through these official links:
- SMART: simreg.smart.com.ph
- GLOBE: new.globe.com.ph/simreg
- DITO: https://digital.dito.ph/pto/download/app
For details on how to register your SIM cards, you can read our post here. For concerns regarding SIM registration, you can call DICT’s 24/7 complaint center hotline by dialing 1326. Or you may reach DICT through these contact numbers:
- SMART: 0947 714 7105
- GLOBE: 0966 976 5971
- DITO: 0991 481 4225
Check out our SIM Registration process comparison between Smart and Globe to give you an idea of what the telcos are doing to boost registrants.
Image Credit: Monstera (Pexels)
