Mauritania's telecom regulator, the Autorité de Régulation Multisectorielle (ARE), has set a deadline of October 6, 2023, for mobile service users in the country to register their SIM cards. Failure to complete this registration by the specified date will result in the suspension of the users’ subscriptions, as warned by the ARE.
To complete the SIM card registration process, users are required to provide a valid identification document at any of the operators' commercial branches. This process will also involve the collection of biometric data from the individual.
This move towards registration is in accordance with Decision No. 0038 issued by the National Regulatory Council (CNR) of Mauritania. This decision, which was enacted on April 6, mandates that the sale of SIM/USIM cards by telecom operators must exclusively involve biometric identification of the buyer. Additionally, telecom operators are obligated to conduct biometric identification for all their subscribers within a six-month timeframe.
This action aligns with the Mauritanian government's commitment to enhancing both national security and the safety of its citizens. This effort comes amidst a backdrop of increasing instances of mobile fraud. Despite previous attempts to combat illicit practices related to SIM card sales and transfers, the results have not met the anticipated outcomes, according to the ARE.