Starting July 26, 2023, Smart, Globe, and DITO will start deactivating all unregistered SIM cards. However, users will have a five-day grace period to reactivate them by providing their personal information and a valid ID.
To register and reactivate deactivated SIM cards, users can visit the websites or apps of their respective telco providers and submit their personal information and valid ID. They can also visit their telco hubs and outlets to complete the process.
- SMART/TNT/PLDT Home WiFi: simreg.smart.com.ph
- GLOBE: new.globe.com.ph/simreg
- DITO: https://digital.dito.ph/pto/download/app
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said that failure to reactivate during the grace period will result in permanent SIM deactivation and forfeiture of any remaining load balances and promo registrations. Users will also lose their mobile numbers.
Users who missed the deadline and got their SIMs deactivated may still process the reactivation of their SIMs not later than five days after the deadline or until July 30, 2023, as stated in the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Registration Act.
As of July 24, only 105.9 million (63%) of the 168 million active SIM cards in the Philippines have been registered, leaving roughly 62.1 million unregistered SIMs.
The SIM registration law was enacted in 2022. It aims to prevent the use of anonymous SIM cards for illegal activities such as fraud, extortion, kidnapping, and terrorism. The law also requires telcos to keep a database of registered SIM card users and share it with law enforcement agencies when requested.
It was extended from April 26 to July 25 due to the low turnout of registrants. Moreover, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said there will be no further extensions for SIM card registration.
For more information on how to register your SIM card, visit www.technobaboy.com/2022/12/27/how-to-register-your-sim-cards-smart-globe-dito/.
