Mobile phone users have been encouraged to register their SIM Cards as Papua New Guinea prepares for the hosting of the APEC Summit in November.
Communications Minister, Sam Basil said the ministry is concerned about the importance of cybercrime especially during the hosting of the APEC Summit.
The Communication Minister has urged the three telecommunications companies to work closely with the National Information and Communication Authority (NICTA) in this SIM Registration Exercise.
The statement explains that SIM Registration is about ensuring that the safety and security for mobile phone users is protected and can be traceable.
The Sim Registration Exercise started in August 2016, after the NICTA ACT 2016 was passed by the National Government.
Under this ACT, all telecommunications companies have to register their customers through their SIM cards.
Digicel and Be-mobile started setting up booths at selected areas in the towns and cities to register their customers while Telikom did Sim Registrations upon the purchase of a new SIM Card.
The initial deadline for SIM Card Registration set by NICTA was 31st of December, 2017.
However, because most customers did not register their SIMs, the deadline was pushed forward to January 23, which is 15 days from now.
But there are concerns in the registering SIM Cards in the rural areas, not all mobile phone users have a valid ID Card or have can get a statutory declaration form, in order to register.
Meanwhile, there is a matter before the National Court in Port Moresby to legal orders to relax the registration of SIM Cards.
That case returns to the Waigani National Court for Directions Hearings on 17 January.
