Potraz warns unregistered subscribers

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has authorised mobile phone operators to exercise restrictive measures to force subscribers to register sim cards ahead of the February 28 deadline, an official said recently.
Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda told New Ziana the regulator had effected punitive restrictions upon realisation that subscribers were not forthcoming in registering their lines.
“We have authorised operators to start implementing restrictions on unregistered lines which will lead to disconnections.
“These are, making the line fail to recharge or getting access during congestions,” he said.
According to latest statistics released by Potraz, NetOne has registered 950 000 subscribers out of a possible one million, while Telecel has registered 729 480 out of possible 1,27 million and Econet has registered 2,97 million out of a possible 4,1 million subscribers.
Eng Sibanda said Potraz was concerned by failure of subscribers to register despite having extended the deadline.
“Subscribers still feel it’s not mandatory for them to register their lines. So these restrictions should force them to register during the remaining days before deadline,” he said.
Last year, Potraz, issued a directive for operators to register their post-paid and prepaid mobile phone users to combat criminal activities and abuse of mobile telecommunications.
Failure to comply by deadline will result in the disconnection of lines. Line registration is a practice, which has already been initiated in other African countries such as South Africa Kenya and Sierra Leone. – New Ziana.