Officials from Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) reported the legal registration of almost 14 million SIM cards in the country over the past two years.
Jalaluddin Shams, the spokesperson for ATRA, said that currently, 80% of SIM cards in Kabul are legally registered, and this process is ongoing in other provinces as well.
Shams also pledged continued efforts to facilitate the registration and purchase of SIM cards across the country.
The spokesperson for ATRA added: “Approximately 14 million SIM cards have been legally registered. SIM cards that were previously registered illegally with paper identification cards are now required under ATRA’s new guidelines to be registered using electronic ID cards. To this end, ATRA has developed a guideline, and all telecommunications companies are required to register SIM cards with electronic ID.”
Meanwhile, some Kabul residents praise the registration of SIM cards and urge other citizens to register theirs.
“It’s essential for every citizen to be identifiable because many thieves and other individuals misuse SIM cards,” Khairullah, a Kabul resident, told TOLOnews.
“SIM card registration is crucial in preventing criminal activities and kidnappings,” Yaser Hakimi, another Kabul resident.
Earlier, ATRA announced that 8,000 telecommunications sites were active across the country and that the installation of sites in remote areas was ongoing.
