You have 2 days left to register your SIM cards or face deactivation. That’s what’s going to happen after April 26, when the SIM registration deadline passes.
Smart, Globe, and DITO have requested an extension of another 120 days, reasoning that subscribers need more time to secure valid IDs. But, at the time of this writing, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is still not extending the deadline. The agency, however, is open to it, but it needs a compelling reason to do so.
(Update 4/24/23: DICT has already met with the telcos and other shareholders to discuss the status and concerns regarding SIM registration. The possibility of extending the SIM registration period was also discussed. The agency will make an official announcement regarding the matter in the coming days.)
According to the latest update from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), 82,845,397 SIMs have been registered as of April 23, 2023. The number accounts for 49.31 percent of the total 168,977,773 subscribers nationwide.
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, do so through these official links:
- SMART/TNT/PLDT Home WiFi: 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. 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: terimakasih0 (Pixabay)
