Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi says at the moment the countries have their SIM cards registration systems but they need to be harmonised/file
NCIP partners States include Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.
The mobile phone SIM cards registration has been primarily necessitated by the need to ensure that ICT networks, particularly mobile telecommunications services are secured from misuse in criminal activities.
Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi says at the moment the countries have their SIM cards registration systems but they need to be harmonised so that all the governments can be able to monitor SIM cards activities no matter the service provider.
“As has been experienced in the entire East African region, expansion of mobile communications services has brought with it a number of public security concerns including the use of mobile handsets to facilitate kidnaps, fraud, terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering among others,” Wangusi said on Thursday.
“Governments, therefore, have had to review their respective ICT sector laws to obligate mobile networks to undertake SIM card registration and to outlaw the sale of pre-activated cards in order to address these challenges.”
At the moment, technical experts from the four countries are meeting in Nairobi for a two day workshop to come up with recommendations on how the new regulations will be implemented.
The recommendations will first go to the ICT Minister of the member states before being presented at the Head of state summit before the end of the year.
“Kenya’s experience with SIM card registration has clearly showed that collaboration with neighboring countries is key in securing mobile networks from misuse by criminals,” Wangusi added.
Globally different economies have come together to form regional economic integration blocks in order to benefit from the economies of scale.