The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered mobile network operators to conduct know-your-client (KYC) checks on subscribers who have registered more than 100 SIM cards under one name. SIMs whose registered owners cannot show continued possession, control and legitimate use will be deactivated.
Telcos have 15 days from receipt of the memorandum order to complete the verification. The checks will determine whether each subscriber still holds all of their SIMs and uses them for lawful purposes.
The directive applies to Globe, Smart, DITO and other mobile network operators in the Philippines. It covers SIMs sold or transferred without following registration requirements, in addition to accounts with unusually large SIM counts.
The NTC said the order is meant to curb organized scam operations, individual scammers and the use of SMS blaster devices, which can send messages to many phones at once. It also targets financial fraud, including activities covered by the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, does not set a limit on how many SIMs a person may register. Under the directive, holding more than 100 SIMs triggers validation. It does not trigger automatic deactivation.
Selling or transferring a registered SIM without complying with registration procedures is a criminal offense under the law. The penalty is imprisonment of six months to six years, a fine of ₱100,000 to ₱300,000, or both.
Deactivation under the order is permanent. NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco said the only exception is when the subscriber can prove ownership.
“Once these numbers are deactivated, it is permanent, unless the person can prove, by proper identification documents, that the affected SIM is registered personally under their name,” Blanco said.
Blanco urged the public to make sure the SIMs they personally use are registered under their own names. The advice applies especially to numbers linked to banking apps, online messaging platforms and mobile wallets such as GCash and Maya. Telcos will begin deactivating flagged accounts once their checks are done.
Large-volume registrations have been a regulatory focus before. In September 2023, the NTC issued Memorandum Order No. 010-09-2023, which required telcos to prioritize validation of individuals with more than five SIMs per telco. The same order covered companies and other juridical entities with more than 100 SIMs per telco. The latest directive applies to subscribers holding more than 100 SIMs under one name.
The SIM Registration Act was signed on October 10, 2022, and requires registration of all prepaid and postpaid SIMs before activation.
Telcos are expected to complete the checks within the 15-day period, after which flagged SIMs without proof of control and legitimate use will be deactivated.
