Technology

Safaricom switches off unregistered lines

PIX

Mobile phone subscribers register their SIM cards at a Safaricom office. The telco has blocked 800,000 unregistered lines. Photo/Emma Nzioka

Safaricom has switched off 800,000 unregistered lines in a move to implement government regulations on SIM card listing.

The firm said in a statement that the unregistered SIM cards were blocked on Thursday evening in its first phase of the switch off.

“We are refining the switch off process and it will continue into the weekend and those affected by the blocking will be unable to make calls or utilise any of our services until their SIM cards are registered,” said Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore in the statement.

On Wednesday, Information and Communications permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo said telcos would be penalised Sh300,000 for every unregistered active subscriber found within their networks.

READ: Hefty fines for unlisted phone lines

The industry regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya, extended to Friday the deadline for the telcos –Safaricom, Airtel, Essar (yu) and Orange – to block all unregistered lines or be penalised.

According to Safaricom, it has so far registered over 85 per cent of its subscribers.

The telco has advised its unregistered subscribers to visit Safaricom shops and authorised dealer outlets to start the process of reinstatement.