Tanzania plans to limit the number of mobile phone numbers an individual can own to a single line per network, in its bid to boost security and tame cybercrime. This will involve a fresh biometric registration of all SIM card holders from May 1 to September. Subscribers have to present their national identification card or its number for registration. According to the sector regulator, the current system is not secure enough and lacks important subscriber details that are vital for the national identity card registration initiated two years ago.
“The information obtained from registered SIM cards will be directly linked to a subscriber’s national identification card ensuring there is no more misinformation or forgery of the documents; no one can forge fingerprints,” said acting corporate communication manager at Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority Semu Mwakyanjala.
