The Ministry of Information and Communications has asked telecom providers and relevant agencies to work with police to inspect and enforce strict punishment on those who sell illegal SIM cards.

Telecom companies are to instruct their SIM card sales agents to strictly follow the rules on keeping the individual information of mobile subscribers secret. Also, sales agents are not permitted to sell or buy SIM cards that are already active.

To buy a prepaid SIM card, subscribers have to officially show their ID or passport and need to be registered before the SIM card can be activated. But in practice this is rarely enforced.

This move aims to prevent the increasing annoyance to society such illegal cards cause, and the difficulties it causes for national security and social order. 

VNS