du finally extends SIM deadline for 100,000s in UAE

DUBAI // Du has extended the deadline for customers to re-register their Sim cards into the new year.

Staff at the du centre in Mall of the Emirates told customers yesterday morning that the cut-off date had been extended to January 17.

There had been confusion after Etisalat and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority extended the October 16 deadline.
But that confusion gave way to annoyance at du centres among some customers who had been queueing since before the shops opened.

Du initially extended the cut-off for 24 hours to yesterday, threatening to block its services from those who failed to make it.
“I came here at about 9.30am and the shop was still closed,” said Suhail Ali, from India. “I was waiting for about 20 minutes before someone from du came out and said that they had extended the deadline.

“I feel as though I’ve wasted my time because they should have informed their customers about this yesterday [Tuesday].”
The telecoms company said yesterday: “We believe an extended timeframe will enable all those customers in the first batch who have been invited but not yet done so to register their lines.

“The following batch of customers are also being notified and for them the last date for registration would also be January 17, 2013.”

Customers who have received text messages can re-register their Sim cards at any one of 45 du shops or 250 partner sites across the UAE.

Du asked customers to wait for their text messages before going to re-register.

The registration process requires customers to fill in an application form and take a valid passport, residency visa and Emirates or GCC identity card.

nhanif@thenational.ae