DUBAI // Mobile phone customers who fail to register their Sim cards on Thursday despite receiving a text message have been warned their phones will be blocked.
Du and Etisalat outlets are braced for a last-minute rush of people desperate to log their details in time as part of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's (TRA) My Number, My Identity campaign.
A TRA spokeswoman said Thursday's deadline is the last chance for mobile users involved in the first two phases of registration to abide by the new rules. "There are no plans to provide an extension to the deadline."
After Thursday, the phones of subscribers who received a text alert will be blocked from making outgoing calls or texts.
"This campaign has been extensively publicised both in the media as well as on our website," said Yasser Al Yousuf, du's director of their premium personal market department.
"People will still be able to receive incoming calls and text messages but they will not be able to make calls or send texts. After 90 days, if they have still not registered, their phones will be completely blocked and they will not be able to receive calls or texts."
Customers can have their lines reopened only after they register their Sim cards.
"If they register their Sim, we can unblock their phones the same day," said Mr Al Yousuf.
The registration process is being held in seven phases. People involved in the first two phases were informed of Thursday's deadline by text. Messages to customers in the third batch will be sent out from Thursday. They will have three months to register.
Du outlined its plan to stagger the process in a text message to customers not involved in the first two phases. It reads: "We're registering customers in batches, and we'll let you know when to visit one of our locations to register your number. You don't need to worry for now just keep enjoying our service.
"In all, we are contacting our subscribers in seven phases and each batch will have three months to register their Sim cards with us," said Mr Al Yousuf.
The TRA launched the My Number, My Identity campaign last summer as a way of tackling the fraudulent use of Sim cards.
The process requires customers to fill in an application form and present a valid passport, residency visa or Emirates or GCC identity card.
Subscribers who have not received text alerts can also register by following the same procedure.
No one from Etisalat could be contacted for comment.
For more details, visit www.etisalat.ae or www.du.ae
nhanif@thenational.ae
