SIM registration portals soon clean of marketing tick boxes

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) wants unrelated tick box items—including subscription to promotional alerts and other marketing options—be removed from the SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration portals of telecommunication companies as the regulator seeks a more streamlined process.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan told the Inquirer they had started their discussions with the telcos last week to resolve the matter.

“We already called the attention of the telcos and requested them to explain or clarify to us,” he said, noting that Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communications Inc. and DITO Telecommunity have been “receptive.”

Mobile subscribers previously raised concerns about the optional tick boxes, saying marking them—even if by mistake—would result in third-party entities accessing them.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) recently instructed the telcos to place the fields unrelated to the SIM card registration on a separate page.

“Telcos must ensure the secure, ethical and responsible handling of data, especially in all data processing being conducted in compliance with the SIM Registration Act,” NPC Commissioner John Henry Naga said earlier.

As of Jan 6, Globe has already registered 6.4 million cards; Smart, more than 7 million; and DITO, 1.37 million. These total to nearly 15 million cards, or almost 9 percent of the 168 million mobile subscribers.

The NTC said it would provide assistance in remote areas where subscribers may be having a hard time complying due to lack of connectivity.