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.
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.
This is one of the reasons why the Namibian government complied with an international framework that mandates Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration.
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.
Since the start of December, there has been a high turnout of people at mobile homes, and calls to extend the deadline are at the moment not being received.
Some people claim that often they go back home without being assisted because of the long queue.
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.
While acknowledging the effectiveness of the online registration process, Ekandjo highlighted the unintended consequence of providing an opportunity for fraudsters to access individuals' confidential details.
Over 17 thousand MTC's SIM card holders registered online within the first five hours of the launch of the online registration platform.
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.
In an interview with nbc News Links says, when registering their sim cards subscribers are taken through a process that includes capturing a picture and fingerprints.
This has raised many eyebrows as the law currently only allows for basic information such as identification copy and residential address.
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.
Research Associate at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), Fredricko Links last week published a report in which he questioned the information from its users.
