The National Communications Authority (NCA) has issued a stern warning, asserting that the practice of renting out SIM cards to third parties, be it nationals or foreigners, is in violation of the law.
In an official statement, the NCA expressed its concern over the discovery of certain individuals and entities engaging in the unlawful practice of leasing SIM cards.
It clarified that this practice falls under the category of pre-registering SIMs for usage, which is explicitly prohibited by Section 73b(1) of the electronic communications (Amendment) Act, 2016. The relevant section stipulates, “A person shall not deal in pre-registered subscriber identity module or user identity module.”
The NCA underscored that all involved entities and individuals must immediately cease and desist from this illegal business model.
Additionally, both visiting and resident foreigners have been issued a strong caution against utilising this service to avoid facing legal repercussions.