Mozambique's National Communications Institute (INCM) has announced that it will carry out a new biometric registration of all telecommunications users in the country. The measure aims to ensure greater control over the use of communication systems in order to combat scams and electronic fraud with false registrations.

In order to obtain a SIM card, the applicant must go through their telecommunications usage history to determine if they are eligible to obtain the card or service they want.

In April this year, INCM announced the introduction of biometric data collection such as facial recognition and fingerprinting for telecommunications subscribers. This Monday, the issue was addressed during a meeting between the regulator and the country's telecommunications operators, banks and insurance companies, according to the News. In addition to the biometric data, the user must provide the references of their mobile devices.

The new register for the use of telecommunications in the country will lead to the allocation of a Single Telecommunications Number (NUTEL), which will allow users to be easily traced, located and identified.

To this end, a Risk Center will also be set up to process and analyze information associated with subscribers, operators, service providers and communications devices.

The measures were approved by the Council of Ministers through Decree 13/2023 of April 11, which approves the Regulation on the Registration of Telecommunications Services.