What The NCA Found In SIM Card Registration Audit

The National Communications Authority has released findings from its recent audit of SIM card registration data, revealing significant issues with inaccuracies, incomplete records and potential risks to national security.

According to the audit report, a review of the database showed a large number of SIM cards linked to incomplete or mismatched personal information. This includes missing identification numbers, incorrect names, and duplicates, which could compromise efforts to ensure that all registered SIM cards are accurately tied to real individuals.

The NCA also found that many mobile numbers were registered without appropriate validation of national ID details, and in some cases the identifiers did not match official records. The audit noted that this undermines the purpose of the SIM registration exercise, which was designed to make it easier for authorities to trace users in criminal investigations and prevent misuse of mobile networks.

Another concern highlighted in the report was the presence of numbers registered under businesses or nongovernmental entities but linked to individual identity details without verification. This problem, the NCA said, increases the risk of fraudulent activity and makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to rely on the data during investigations.

The audit also revealed that some SIM cards have remained active long after the associated subscriber is deceased or no longer reachable, suggesting that deactivation and database cleanup efforts have been inadequate.

In response to the findings, the NCA said it plans to work with mobile network operators to strengthen verification processes and clean up the registration database. The authority emphasised the need for regular checks to ensure that all SIM cards are properly documented and that registration information remains up to date.

The NCA’s report further recommended improved integration between the SIM registration platform and the national identification system so that accuracy can be improved and incidents of mismatched data prevented.

Officials said that tightening the SIM registration system is essential not only for national security but also for consumer protection and reducing fraudulent use of mobile connections.

The NCA called on subscribers to verify and update their registration details where necessary to help improve the quality of the database.