Mobile subscription registration must have owner's photo

In addition to identification documents, subscribers must provide a portrait photo of themselves, according to newly issued regulations being implemented by network operators.

According to Decree No. 49/2017 amending and supplementing Article 15 of Decree No. 25/2011, guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Telecommunications Law, for mobile subscribers whose subscriber information is not in accordance with regulations, the network operator must notify continuously for at least 5 days, at least once a day, requesting individuals and organizations to re-enter into a contract according to the form.

One of the most notable additions to Decree 49 is that in addition to the information on personal identification documents, subscribers must also provide a portrait photo of the owner. Network operators will have to collect this information for new subscribers registered after April 24, 2017. For subscribers activated before April 24, 2017, the network operators have 12 months to supplement the information according to the new regulations.

All carriers have announced and are taking photos of people who come directly to transact and sign contracts.In case individuals and organizations do not comply with the requirements, the regulations clearly state that one-way telecommunication services will be temporarily suspended after 15 days and two-way telecommunication services will be temporarily suspended after the next 15 days if not complied with.

The Decree also clearly stipulates that telecommunications enterprises have 12 months to standardize all subscriber data before being fined if they are found to have incorrect subscriber information.

This Decree was issued with the aim of strengthening the management of mobile subscribers and preventing spam messages.According to the management agency, every day in Vietnam, millions of spam messages are sent. These spam messages mainly come from junk SIM cards, which are prepaid mobile phone SIM cards registered with incorrect subscriber information. Many subjects have easily purchased these phone numbers to send anonymous messages, scam, disturb public order, directly affecting people as well as information security and national defense.

In addition, the Ministry of Information and Communications believes that junk SIM cards not only lead to spam and scams but are also a tool for criminals and even terrorists. This is the reason why the management agency has strengthened the management of prepaid mobile subscribers with continuous campaigns since the end of last year.

According to VNE