The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is tightening SIM registration checks in the Philippines. Users with more than 100 SIM cards registered under their names may now require additional verification.
The agency has directed telecom providers to conduct stricter checks on subscribers with unusually high numbers of registered SIMs. The move is part of efforts to address scams, fraud, and other illegal activities that may involve bulk-registered mobile numbers.
The NTC clarified that there is still no limit on how many SIM cards a person can register. Instead, it set a 100-SIM threshold that will trigger further review by telcos.
Under the new rules, subscribers may be asked to prove that they own and control the SIM cards registered under their names. They may also need to show that the SIMs are being used for legitimate purposes.
The stricter verification process is meant to identify suspicious registrations without affecting users and businesses that have a valid reason for maintaining a large number of SIM cards.
Subscribers who fail to verify ownership or proper use of their SIMs risk having those numbers permanently deactivated. The agency is also looking closely at SIMs that may have been transferred, resold, or distributed without proper re-registration.
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The order comes after earlier discussions about limiting the number of SIMs a person could register. Instead of imposing a cap, regulators chose enhanced verification for accounts with very large numbers of registered SIMs.
If you have more than 100 SIMs under your name, expect your telco to ask for additional documents or proof of ownership in the future.
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