Biometric data, namely facial recognition and fingerprints, and the registration of cell phones will be one of the new standards to be observed by telecommunications operators in Mozambique when registering SIM cards. However, this new registration system does not extinguish the use of other identification documents such as identity cards or passports. Distributors or resellers will also be covered by the registration.

The subscriber will thus have a Unique Telecommunications Number that will be issued by the Mozambican Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM), to uniquely identify the subscriber throughout the communications ecosystem, regardless of the operator.

The measure should be imposed over the next six months (extendable), and aims to promote the responsible use of public telecommunications services and associated equipment, as well as the safety and quality of telecommunications network services, says Carta de Moçambique.

INCM's data scientist, Reinaldo Zezela, explained that the measure also aims to make it easier to identify the perpetrators of cybercrime and avoid failures in identifying the offender.

Zezela was speaking this Thursday (20) at a seminar that brought together INCM and banks.

The new rule provides for penalties for subscribers who fail to comply, namely the suspension of the use of any operator's services. Operators who break the rules will be fined between 500 and 3000 minimum wages. Agents will be fined between 10 and 20 minimum wages. In addition, underwriters, operators and agents may be suspected of fraud if they fail to comply with the rules. Such suspected cases of fraud will be referred to a Risk Center.

The deadline for the measure to come into force may be revised given the particularities of the country in terms of access to technology, as well as areas that are difficult to reach.

The rules are supported by Decree 13/2023 of April 11, which approves the Regulation on the Registration of Telecommunications Services. The Regulation establishes rules for the process of registering subscribers to telecommunications services to be observed by operators of these services, their agents, distributors and/or resellers, public and private entities, individuals who own and use communications devices, based on telecommunications services.