Control on SIM cards tightened (In South)

[rickfarang]

(Aside from a one-time gift in the form of a reduction on the liability side of the ledgers of the mobile phone companies, as the unregistered SIM cards are deactivated and their related value evaporates, the benefit of these programs is not clear. Just a personal observation.)

 

From Bangkok Post on line version, April 30, 2005.

---

 

Control on SIM cards tightened

 

New hassle for prepaid users going to South

 

KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA

 

Prepaid mobile phone users travelling to the restive South have to tell their operators in advance or their phones will be cut off when they get there, under a new government measure to tackle terror.

 

The measure will take immediate effect under an agreement reached at a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng and attended by staff from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, TOT Corporation and CAT Telecom.

 

The government is trying to curb the rising number of mobile phones being used to trigger bombs in the deep South.

 

Meanwhile, the government says the nationwide identification of the current 22 million prepaid mobile phone users scheduled to take place on May 10 will go ahead without any changes.

 

The government will also ask all prepaid mobile phone users in Songkhla, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to report their identities in the next two weeks. Those who fail to do so by the May 15 deadline will have their phones deactivated.

 

TOT president Teeravit Charuwat said the main aim was to deactivate all prepaid SIM cards in the four southernmost provinces which are not registered.

 

People from outside travelling with prepaid mobile phones to these four provinces must notify their operators in advance or their phones will be cut off while there.

 

TOT and CAT are the concession holders of all mobile phone services. Mr Chaturon told them to tell concessionaires immediately of the measures.

 

He said Advanced Info Service has 108,000 prepaid SIM cards in these provinces, while CAT Telecom has only small numbers of prepaid phones in use which could be controlled more easily.

 

Meanwhile, one mobile phone operator said private operators were confused about the measures on the control of prepaid SIM cards and wanted to see the details in print. Verbal orders were no good in the event of a legal dispute.

 

''Do we need to set up counters to take registrations, and terminate all those who fail to register immediately when the deadline expires? We need a clearer picture,'' he said. If TOT and CAT wanted their concessionaires [private operators] to abide by the concession agreements, then a written instruction was needed.

 

He described the situation as a ''vaccuum'' with the state reluctant to issue orders on paper despite the fact private operators were ready to comply. In terms of technology, private operators could do what the state wanted immediately.

 

AIS executive vice-president for engineering Vichien Mektrakarn said AIS needed to know exactly what the state wanted _ for example if it wanted AIS to deactivate users in the four southernmost provinces who failed to register.

 

(end of article)

[Khun_Kong]

Oops.

 

Seems they can't actually selectively deactivate the SIM cards.

 

Oops again.

 

Memo to Thai Politicos: "Please engage brain before attempting to operate mouth."

 

OOPS Article from BKK Post

 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS / SIM CARD REGISTRATION

Tuesday deadline remains but southern phones cannot be blocked

 

SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN

 

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry has abandoned its effort to control and disconnect unregistered mobile phone SIM cards in the four southernmost provinces, but reiterated that all prepaid card buyers would have to produce legitimate identification as of Tuesday.

 

Technical experts at the ministry said yesterday it was not feasible to detect and turn off phones with unregistered cards, as planned after a May 15 registration deadline. It had been hoped to limit the options of bombers, who have exploded numerous bombs by using mobile phones.

 

The second part of the restriction remains in effect. Mobile customers must produce an ID card or passport to purchase a prepaid mobile phone SIM card, starting on Tuesday. Sellers must record the names and ID details, and authorities will monitor all shops selling the cards to ensure they record buyers' details.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng had previously set May 15 as a deadline for all owners of prepaid mobile phone SIM cards in Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla provinces to register or have their phones disconnected. But the minister was forced to admit he issued the ultimatum without asking engineering experts whether the plan was technically possible.

 

''Disconnection of signals in the particular four areas could not be taken since it will also affect owners of SIM cards in all 14 southern provinces, starting from Chumphon'' southward, said Kanawat Wasinsungworn, an assistant to ailing ICT minister Suvit Khunkitti.

 

''Also, it would affect the operators' incomes and business operations.''

 

But yesterday, engineers from CAT Telecom, TOT Corp and all five mobile phone operators met at the ICT ministry to discuss the feasibility of disconnecting signals in just the four southern provinces.

 

Mr Kanawat said the biggest problem was a lack of specific software to block signals just to prepaid mobile phone service in the four target provinces. It would take ''some time'' to upgrade existing programs _ well past the proposed May 15 deadline.

 

In addition, SIM cards are registered for nationwide use, on all 21.5 million mobile numbers, not to particular users.

 

Mr Kanawat said the operators and two state telecom firms will continue meetings to work on implementing the intention of the government edict, and thought it could be completed this month.

 

Authorities now plan to order all 21.5 million prepaid users to register their phones within six months or be cut off.

 

Mr Kanawat said the ministry will seek co-operation from other agencies to help, by providing registration venues, including the 1,700 branches of the Civil Registration Division, the Tambon Administration Organisation, and 3,000 post offices.

 

He said the seven private mobile phone operators _ Advanced Info Service, Total Access, TA Orange, Digital Phone Co, Thai Mobile, Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia and satellite-based Aces Regional Service _ as well as CAT Telecom and TOT, have agreed in principle to sign a memorandum of understanding on Monday that support registration.

 

The agreement will reportedly become part of the firms' concessions, although no new laws or regulations will be issued. Translation: Operators who fail to meet the government's call will be penalised at the core of their business, the concession contract.