Thai regulator NBTC is considering requiring all mobile operators to reregister their entire customer base to prevent fraud and protect national security, despite concerns this would place an undue burden on mobile operators.
The regulator has proposed a new SIM registration regime requiring operators to record either the real owner or the user of the SIM card, the Bangkok Post reported.
Operators would have just 180 days to complete the re-registration process, and would be required to register all new SIM buyers across 50,000 retailers across the nation.
But operators have objected to the draft regulation due to concerns it would require significant financial and manpower resources.
In addition, the draft stipulates that operators would be held ultimately responsible and could face punishment if a SIM is found to have been incorrectly registered, even in the case where the registration was conducted by retailers.
Operators have also expressed concerns that it will be difficult to complete the reregistration process in some situations, such as cases where all corporate SIMs are registered to one juristic buyer and cases where parents have purchased SIMs for their children.
According to the report, some operators have threatened to file a complaint with the Central Administrative Court challenging the legality of the regime if the draft is put into effect.
The regulator plans to finalize the draft and submit it for board approval by April.