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 deadline for SIM card registration remains unchanged at the end of this month, and those who do not register by then risk being suspended from telecommunication service.
Giving an update at the Government Information Centre, the Chief Executive Officer of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Emilia Nghikembua, said the Authority will collaborate with all operators to ensure strict compliance by March 31st.
"We would like to clarify that unregistered SIM cards will face suspension for three months on April 1, 2024. During this suspension period, customers attempting to utilise the service will encounter service unavailability and will receive a message in that regard. If the number remains unregistered during these three months, it will be forfeited; it goes back into the pool of other unallocated numbers, where it can be allocated to a new consumer."
She says that so far, CRAN is satisfied that operators have mechanisms in place to effectively implement the suspension of unregistered SIM cards, but she also stresses that it is vital for consumers to register to enjoy uninterrupted services.
"We find it imperative that consumers safeguard their digital identity through registration because your number is no longer just a number; it is your identity, and this is why you must register it so that you can continue to enjoy the benefits of e-commerce."
By February 29, Namibia had a total of 2.3 million active SIM cards across all networks, of which only 1.6 million were registered, representing a registration rate of 70.6%.
Paratus Namibia and Ucom Mobile Namibia are said to have achieved a remarkable milestone of 100% SIM card registration on their individual networks.
MTC has also seen an increase in registrations, from 70% in January to 76%.
"Telecom Namibia has witnessed a decrease in registrations, falling from the 79% success rate that was reported in January to 54% on February 29. We wish to clarify that this decline stems from a notable adjustment in Telecom's registration subscription account, which was promoted by the removal of deactivated account registered numbers. The error from Telecom has had a ripple effect on the national average, which remains unchanged. If you recall, as of January, we had a rate of 70.9%, but today we are reporting a 70.6%."
The registration of SIM cards is a mandatory activity as stipulated in the Communications Act of 2009.