Information Systems Expert Calls For A Mop-Up For SIM Card Registration
Mr. George Akom, an Information Systems Expert and Governance Analyst has indicated that it would not be out of place to implement a mop-up plan to cater for mobile phone users who would not be able to meet the deadline for the SIM card registration exercise.
He explained that many still have been able to register their SIM Cards despite the publicity and the enforcement of the deadline. Mr. Akom described the exercise as a very laudable one that would provide the general benefit to the vulnerable in the mobile network ecosystem.
He added, that the exercise met a lot of challenges from different stakeholders but the mutual understanding and acceptance by many Ghanaians made the exercise smooth.
He said that technology acceptance largely depended on the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the various System when implemented. The change management process provides always the best ways for technology to be accepted by users. He emphasized that technology acceptance without the awareness of users becomes difficult to be accepted into society.
Enumerating the benefits of the SIM registration, Mr. Akom indicated that, the registration of the SIM Cards would provide the mobile network ecosystem the tools to reduce or eliminate fraudulent and criminal activities, ascertain an accurate number of valid and accurate SIMs on the network, enable Mobile Network Operators to build better demographics database to support their clients, provide more confidence and secure economic activities for e-commerce and e-government services.
He stressed that many were reluctant to register their SIMs due to the fear of what he described as “Data Transparency and Open Privacy”. He explained that the exercise would be guided by the Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843).
Addressing the media, Mr. Akom stressed that the registration is in line with Subscriber Identity Module Registration Regulations 2012 L. I 2006 which mandates Network Operators or Service Providers to activate a SIM only after the subscriber registers the SIM as directed by the NCA.
He iterated that the SIM registration would be implemented in full when the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR) is also taken seriously to complement the main agenda for the cyber security ecosystem.
He stated that the CEIR is to regulate handset and mobile equipment registration. With the Central Equipment Identity Register, it would be able to track mobile devices imported into the country and check the mobile “black market”, enhance mobile device quality, and avoid mobile smuggling and theft.
On the mop-up exercise, he addressed that TELCOS should create Emergency Response Centers with available devices and insist on the individual USSD linkage before coming to the Centers as a way to shorten the registration exercise for the Mop-up. These could be a way to cater for those who have not registered to date so as to save them from the situation of SIM deactivation. He added that the National Identification Authority Centers should do something to support the situation.
Source: Opemsuo.com/ Gloria Opoku
