Egypt’s Parliamentary Communications Committee Backs NTRA Measures to Tighten SIM Registration
Egypt’s House of Representatives Communications and Information Technology Committee has backed the latest measures introduced by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to tighten mobile line registration and strengthen regulatory discipline across the telecom market.
The committee’s position came during a meeting with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy and NTRA Executive President Mohamed Shamroukh, following recent complaints involving mobile lines registered using citizens’ personal data without their knowledge or possession.
Committee Chairman Ahmed Badawy and other members praised NTRA’s swift response to the complaints and the regulatory decisions introduced to address weaknesses in SIM registration procedures and protect users’ personal data.
The measures are designed to ensure that mobile lines are registered to their actual holders, tighten controls governing SIM sales and activation, and reduce the risk of unauthorized registrations recurring.
NTRA has also moved to regularize existing lines registered through corporate systems and accelerate the introduction of biometric identity verification through mobile operators’ applications, adding stronger authentication to the registration process.
The regulator’s response has extended beyond administrative measures. Egypt’s four mobile operators have been referred to the Public Prosecution over violations involving lines registered in users’ names without their knowledge, while cases carrying potential criminal implications will be handled by the competent investigative authorities.
Badawy said the regulator’s rapid handling of the complaints and its public clarification helped address concerns surrounding the issue, while highlighting continued cooperation between parliament and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Committee members stressed that telecom companies should strengthen their internal compliance and governance procedures to ensure that regulatory requirements are applied consistently and that subscriber information is properly protected.
They also expressed support for strict enforcement by the ministry and NTRA, while confirming that the committee will continue to monitor implementation of the new measures and their impact as part of parliament’s oversight role.
The tighter controls take on added significance as mobile numbers increasingly serve as gateways to financial and government digital services, making accurate subscriber identification a central component of consumer protection and trust in Egypt’s expanding digital ecosystem.