Effective May 1, 2010, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 mandated that all subscribers acquiring new SIM cards are required to be duly registered before the SIM cards are activated. This directive will however take full effect once NCC announces the start date for SIM Registration. From this date, all unactivated SIMs will be required to be registered before they can be activated.

As a subscriber, you are required to provide your full names; age; date of birth; occupation; residential address; state of origin; nationality; photograph; religion; bio-metrics information such as thumb print and MSISDN as well as SIM serial.

The implication of the above is that upon the purchase of a new SIM card, a subscriber will be unable to make outbound calls and SMS until the SIM is registered. However, a subscriber will be able to receive inbound calls and SMS on an unregistered number for 30 days commencing from the date of first call from the SIM card. Where the SIM card remains unregistered at the end of 30 days, the line will be deactivated.

Existing Etisalat subscribers are also requested to register their own Etisalat SIM lines as announced by the NCC; they can approach any Etisalat Shop, DP Outlets and designated Oceanic Bank branches to carry register their numbers.

To register, visit any of the Etisalat Experience Centres or Distribution Partner outlets. You can also register at designated Oceanic Bank branches nationwide. Other details include:

• A new subscriber may opt to call 200 to partially activate his/her SIM card; however this will not affect the registration activity as the registration can be done even if the subscriber does not call 200. Partial activation means that the subscriber shall only receive voice calls and sms for a period of 30 days from the date of call to 200.
• Where the SIM card remains unregistered at the expiration of 30 days, it shall become inactive. The subscriber shall no longer receive voice or sms calls until he/she registers the SIM.
• A customer is not required to be an Etisalat subscriber before he can register a SIM, registration by proxy is allowed.
• Customers are allowed to register as many SIMs as they wish, but they are solely responsible for all transactions done with the MSISDN.

For more information about the Subscriber Registration required details; Subscribers can download

the

"Subscriber Registration Form"

, fill it and walk in to any Etisalat Registration Outlet to

 complete their registration.