VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications has transferred personal information registered by Ha Noi's 4.1 million pre-paid mobile phone subscribers to the Public Security Ministry for collation.

The move this month aims to tighten management of pre-paid mobile phone subscribers and minimise the illegal use of mobile phone numbers. Since 2009, all the subscribers have had to state their personal information including full name, identity card numbers and date of birth to register for mobile phone services.

According to the Information and Communications Ministry, all domestic telecommunication service providers are in control of their pre-paid subscribers thanks to the information submitted.

However, service providers found it difficult to confirm the accuracy of the information provided, said the ministry's representative.

He used the example of an under-14-year-old subscribers who had yet to be granted an ID card.

Pre-paid mobile phone users complained that as soon as the regulation on pre-paid subscriptions took effect three years ago, they gave proper personal information but some found their account under someone else's name.

Nguyen Hong Hanh, of Hoang Mai District, said that previously she bought new SIM cards as service providers ran promotion campaigns.

"Now, each person can register only three mobile phone numbers," she said.

Hanh said she feared information she provided to telecommunication agencies would be used for other subscribers.

The ministry blamed the improper management of clients' information on an unsystematic database. This could be solved under an e-ID management system, the ministry said.

After the inspection, the ministries would announce a list of subscribers with false information and then service providers would be responsible to ask for the correct information.

The telecommunication companies would be required to stop providing services to subscribers who gave false information and then failed to correct it promptly.

An inspection would also be carried out in Da Nang and HCM City. At present, among 4.1 million Ha Noi's pre-paid mobile phone subscribers who have their information checked are 1.57 million subscribers of Viettel, 1.25 million with Mobiphone and 1.28 million with Vinaphone.

Other service telecommunication providers are also to complete their client information to submit to the ministries.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News