New regulations expected to reduce prepaid mobile accounts

The circular on the management of prepaid mobile subscriptions took effect on June 1, and is predicted to reduce the number of subscribers of local mobile providers.

 

The circular's aim is to ensure a healthy competition in the local mobile market.

According to the circular, which was issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, each customer will be allowed to register at most 3 sim cards to one network. The total amount that would be allowed to any one person would be 18 sim cards between six networks, Viettel, MobiFone, VinaPhone, Vietnammobile, Beeline and EVN Telecom.

The purchase, circulation and use of pre-paid multi-function SIM cards without registering mobile phone subscriber information prior to activation will be banned.

The purchase and circulation of activated pre-paid SIM cards without registered subscriber information or with invalid registration will also be banned. A subscriber will not allowed to use his ID card or passport to register for another subscriber.

Activated sim cards or equipment used to activate prepaid sim cards are also forbidden for circulation in market. When changing owners, subscriber information must be changed at the transaction point.

Accounts of unregistered pre-paid mobile phone subscribers or those with invalid registration information will be terminated after August 31, 2012 and the accounts will have to registered as new subscribers.

The circular's aim is to stop rampant mobile spam messages and ensure a healthy competition in the local mobile market.