Papua New Guinea's National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA) says it has only approved the release of a total 10 million subscriber identity module (SIM) and not 20 million. There were reports which had been put to the regulator that it had approved a further 10 million new SIM cards, bringing the total on the PNG market to 20 million. The regulator said this to be incorrect.
“NICTA has so far issued 10 million numbers, which equates to one number - one SIM card. “Digicel have been issued 6 million numbers for their eight-digit mobile numbers in the 70xxxxxx, 71xxxxxx, 72xxxxxx, 73xxxxxx, 74xxxxxx and 79xxxxxx ranges while bmobile two million numbers in 75xxxxxx and 76xxxxxx; and Telikom PNG-two million in the numbers 77xxxxxx and 78xxxxxx respectively,” the NICTA spokesperson said. “As you will be aware, under the current SIM card registration exercise, each of the three operators is required to provide regular 30-days update on progress they are making in registering their SIM card users.
“The operators/SIM card users have until January 1, 2019 to register SIM cards in use,” the spokesperson added. On the issue of the gazettal of the cybercrime legislation, the spokesperson said NICTA is hopeful that the final certification and gazettal will be done in the coming weeks. “The training of law enforcement officers will follow once certification, gazettal is done and importantly, necessary funding is provided by the government,” he added. Post Courier/ PNG Technologies
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