Egypt’s ICT Minister Orders Mobile Operators to Fully Implement NTRA’s New SIM Registration Rules
Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy has called on the country’s four mobile operators to fully comply with new regulatory measures introduced by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), as authorities move to tighten SIM registration and ensure mobile lines are linked to their actual users.
Hendy said operators must implement the new requirements while keeping procedures straightforward for customers, striking a balance between stronger identity controls and ease of access to mobile services.
The measures are designed to verify the identity of the person actually holding each mobile line, improve the accuracy of subscriber records and strengthen governance across the SIM registration and activation process.
His remarks came during a meeting with members of the House of Representatives’ Communications and Information Technology Committee, chaired by MP Ahmed Badawy, and attended by NTRA Executive President Mohamed Shamroukh.
The meeting followed complaints involving mobile lines registered using citizens’ personal information without their knowledge or possession, which triggered inspections, regulatory action and the referral of Egypt’s four mobile operators to the Public Prosecution.
Mobile Operators Face Tighter Identity Controls
NTRA has introduced a package of measures aimed at closing gaps in SIM registration procedures and preventing similar incidents from recurring.
The regulator has tightened rules governing the sale and activation of mobile lines, introduced procedures to regularize existing lines registered through corporate systems, and instructed operators to accelerate the rollout of biometric identity verification through their mobile applications.
The new controls are intended to establish a clearer link between a mobile number and its actual holder, reducing the possibility of subscriber data being used to register lines without the individual’s knowledge.
Hendy stressed that protecting telecom users remains a top priority and said operators would not be allowed to disregard the rules governing the registration and activation of mobile lines.
SIM Identity Becoming Critical to Digital Services
The minister said accurate SIM registration has become increasingly important because mobile phones are no longer used solely for calls and connectivity.
Mobile numbers now play a central role in accessing digital financial services, government platforms and other online services, making reliable subscriber identification an important part of Egypt’s wider digital ecosystem.
Stronger governance of mobile-line registration, Hendy said, is therefore necessary not only to protect consumers and their personal data but also to maintain confidence in the country’s expanding digital services infrastructure.
The government and NTRA are also moving toward broader biometric and digital identity capabilities that could eventually allow users to complete identity verification and certain procedures remotely, reducing the need for branch visits while strengthening security.
NTRA has warned that failure to comply with its rules could result in strict legal and administrative penalties, potentially extending to the suspension of an operator’s ability to sell and activate new mobile lines.