1.6 million SIM cards have been registered across the country as of last month. 

Individuals who have not yet registered their cards are given a 15-day window to do so.

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, says the policy, mandating SIM card registration, was adopted to mitigate security concerns, address crime, and enable the application of digital services.

In 2022, Namibia recorded more than 2.7 million cyberattacks.

Long queues for SIM card registration continue to be observed at MTC's mobile homes as the public rushes at the last minute to register their numbers.

The public was given an ample time of one year to register their numbers; however, the majority waited until the last minute.

Tim Ekandjo, Chief Human Capital, Marketing, and Corporate Affairs Officer at MTC, has issued a cautionary note regarding the potential risks associated with the efficiency of online SIM card registration.

A researcher with the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), Frederico Links claims, there is no transparency in the biometric data collection, MTC is currently carrying out.

MTC  customers are required to provide biometric data, as a condition of sale for all its services.

Those failing to provide fingerprints and photographs will not complete their SIM card registration process and their services will be discontinued at the start of next year.