Mobile operators start biometric verification of 103m SIMs

[Saifullah Sani]

Five mobile cellular operators of the country have initiated biometric re-verification process of around 103 million, mobile phone SIMs, under government’s newly devised National Action Plan to counter terrorism.

Cellular mobile operators, Mobilink, Telenor Pakistan, Ufone, Zong and Warid have started Biometric Verification System (BVS) across the country, says a press release from PR Company.

The cellular mobile operators have already facilitated data verification exercises in the past as well including the 668 process back in 2009, 789 verification process in 2011 and Biometric Verification System (BVS) introduced in 2014.
The industry has so far invested $25 million on the provision of around 60,000 BVS devices and Rs 22 billion on previous mandatory verification processes with another significant amount to be spent on this re-verification exercise to enhance the availability of these BVS devices across Pakistan.

The cellular industry has urged all its valued customers to perform their national duty by re-verifying their mobile phone SIMs as per the schedule announced by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Ministry of Interior.

The industry has also sought government’s support to meet the extremely challenging task by ensuring cooperation of law enforcement agencies/ local authorities, provision of security at service centers/ franchise and BVS retailers across the country where re-verification process is underway etc.

During the last three years, the telecom sector was contributing an average of Rs.124.
8 billion annually to the national exchequer in terms of taxes, regulatory fees, initial and annual licence fees, activation tax, and other charges.

During FY2014, telecom sector has contributed an all-time high Rs 243.
8 billion, registering a growth of 95.8pc over the last year.
This is in addition to the billions paid as other fees and levies to the federal and provincial governments and their concerned authorities.

During FY2014, cellular mobile operators have invested $1,789.
7 million on account of acquiring 3G and 4G spectrums and deployment of advanced telecommunication networks.

The overall telecom investment reached $1,815 million in FY2014; an almost three times increase from the level of $600 million last year.

Almost half of telecom investment was in the form of FDI i.e.
telecom sector attracted over $903 million of FDI in FY2014, 34.2pc of the total FDI received by Pakistan in that period.

The industry has also created around 1.4M direct and indirect jobs.

Despite having reservations on the execution plan for this huge exercise, the industry as always has agreed to the requirement of the GoP (under the National Action Plan) for carrying out SIMs re-verification through BVS within 90 days and will put its best efforts to try and complete this Herculean task within the stipulated timeframe.

The Industry’s volunteered support towards measures to maintain National Security in view of the prevalent law and order situation should be recognised accordingly.

Mobile operators start biometric verification of 103m SIMs