PLDT Inc.’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. said it kept its lead among public elecommunication entities in SIM (subscriber identity module) registration with 47.02 million registered subscribers.
The number of Smart’s registered subscribers as of June 15 accounts for 70.92% of its total number of subscribers at 66.3 million, data from the National Telecommunications Commission show.
Meanwhile, Globe Telecom, Inc. recorded 45.64 million registered SIMs representing 52.61% of its total subscribers, while DITO Telecommunity Corp. tallied 6.84 million registrants accounting for 45.73% of its subscribers.
Republic Act No. 11934 or the SIM Registration Act requires all SIM users to register their SIMs under their name or risk SIM deactivation.
At PLDT’s annual stockholders’ meeting, Danny Y. Yu, chief financial officer and chief risk management officer, said the registration numbers represent around 91% of mobile revenues.
“While we do not expect 100% registration, we do not expect this to materially impact mobile revenues,” Mr. Yu added.
Smart’s collaboration with the government in coming up with the implementing rules and regulations and its focus on SIM registration proved vital in the campaign, said PLDT President and Chief Executive Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio.
“We made sure that Smart’s SIM registration customer experience would be seamless. It was important for us to understand the customer journey and make it as convenient to our customers as possible,” he added.
The wireless company partnered with state agencies and local government units to deploy thousands of assisted SIM registration booths.
“We also invested heavily in a customer education campaign,” Mr. Panlilio said.
Smart continues to encourage subscribers to register their SIMs before July 25, the extended deadline under the SIM Registration Act. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
