10 March 2023

Operators in the Philippines have signed more than 30 million SIM cards in days since the introduction of the SIM card registration law to combat hackers and fraudulent activity.

The Department of Information and Technology (DICT) detailed the figure is 17.76% of 168.9 million subscribers nationwide.

PLDT subsidiary Smart Communications reported 15.4 million customers registered their SIM cards, some 22.76% of its subscriber base. Globe Telecom recorded 12.2 million SIM cards which accounts for 13.89% of its 87.8 million customer base. Meanwhile, DITO Telecommunity reported 2.3 million registered SIM cards, 17.79% of its 13.1 million of its subscribers.

“We are seeing good progress in terms of the registered subscribers, and we look forward to how this will translate to a safer and more secure digital communications in the coming days,” said DICT secretary Ivan John Uy.

DICT is also collaborating with the National Telecommunications Commission to register SIM cards in 15 remote regions.

The Philippines ratified its SIM registration law in February with support from operators due to large scale fraud from scam text messages and phone calls, which prompted operators to beef up security systems.