A million of the 3.4 million prepaid SIM cards in circulation in Belgium had been registered by mid-February. The Telecommunications Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) gave the figure in a press release on Friday. The identification of anonymous SIM cards was one of the new measures the government put in place after the 22nd of March attacks.
People that own a prepaid card have to register with their mobile operator before the beginning of June.
Prepaid cards were widely used by criminals as they were anonymous. Since December, anyone who buys a new prepaid card has to give their identity. This identification system allows security services to find out who is using them more quickly.
There is a transition period for the cards already in circulation so users can register, which will last until the beginning of June. They can register by topping their SIM card up with a bank card, by registering online with their electronic identity card and PIN code, or going into one of their operator’s stores.
(Source: Belga)
