SIM cards continue to be a key topic of discussion in developing markets, often in relation to new governmental control measures. Indeed, this is the case currently in Rwanda where the government has switched off just under half a million mobile subscribers for failing to register their SIM cards as part of a SIM registration exercise.
The campaign is a prerequisite to regional integration under the East African Community, according to the Daily Monitor.
The Rwandan government kicked off its SIM card registration campaign back in February, with the planned end date being July 31. However, the registration exercise will continue for those who have had their cell phones disconnected as a result of it.
Fortunately, these individuals are only prevented from placing or receiving phone calls and can have their SIM cards reactivated after having them registered, according to Yvonne Makolo, chief marketing officer of MTN (News - Alert), the area's largest telecom provider. However, these customers have to register within 90 days or their SIM cards will be removed from the network.
The Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority says that more than 6.1 million SIM cards have been registered to date, making up 92.6 percent of the total Rwandan subscription base. Of the country's top three mobile providers, Tigo fared the best, registering 96 percent of its subscribers, followed by Airtel (News - Alert) at 94 percent and MTN at 90 percent.
Meanwhile, neighboring country Tanzania has faced a different set of problems, relating to a SIM card tax. The Tanzanian government introduced the monthly SIM charge, which amounts to TZS 1,000 or US$.062. The money collected from this tax campaign is to be put toward clean and safe water, electricity and improved infrastructure, but the Mobile Operators Association of Tanzania (MOAT) is still in opposition to it.
As for other countries in the East African Community, Kenya is the only one that has fully completed the SIM registration exercise, while Uganda's is still ongoing, with registration scheduled to end on August 31.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson