Major carriers propose online registration, but with controls
Recently, the Ministry of Information and Communications requested network operators to take strong measures to completely handle the situation of junk SIMs . Sharing with VietNamNet about this issue, network operators affirmed that they have complied with the suspension of subscriber development at the dealer channel system. In addition, network operators have stopped all subscriber development activities in the form of online.
According to a survey by VietNamNet , with the drastic actions of the Ministry of Information and Communications and network operators, the market has undergone drastic changes. The number of agents selling pre-activated SIM cards has decreased sharply.
In the past, customers could go to any agent to buy a pre-activated SIM, but now many agents no longer sell this SIM. In particular, the psychology of users has also changed and they have switched to using citizen identification cards to register their SIMs. However, with immediate measures to quickly "cut" the junk SIM disease that is causing many social consequences, the long-term management problem also needs to be considered to both create conditions for network operators to develop subscribers and facilitate people to use the service.
According to statistics, there are still tens of millions of SIM cards in the distribution channel and agents will most likely find some opportunity to "pump" junk SIM cards into the market, causing social disruption. Therefore, tightening management measures is necessary to force these SIM cards to have real information and real usage.
Sharing with VietNamNet about this issue, a representative of Viettel Telecom said that it is possible for network operators to use the online subscription registration form. However, network operators must ensure conditions such as connecting to the population database of the Ministry of Public Security when customers register for new subscriptions. In addition, network operators must use the eKYC solution to authenticate users. If necessary, the Ministry of Information and Communications can require network operators to take an additional step of using video calls to check whether the correct person is registering the SIM.
“If network operators carry out the above 3 steps, they will ensure that users who register for their own SIM cards will be strictly controlled, avoiding the situation of using fake documents to register for SIM cards as has happened recently,” said a representative of Viettel Telecom.
Mr. Bui Son Nam, Deputy General Director of MobiFone, also affirmed that digital transformation is taking place strongly, so using the form of having customers register personal information online when activating a new subscription is a trend happening in the world. Services such as registering for an e-wallet, issuing and renewing passports... have also been done online.
Agreeing with the above viewpoint, VinaPhone representative also affirmed that if the form of online personal information registration for new activated subscribers ensures 3 factors: connecting to the population database of the Ministry of Public Security, having eKYC for authentication and using videocall for checking, it will be more strictly guaranteed than the current form of going to the network operator's store to register.
Through online registration, customers can buy SIM cards anywhere such as through agents, through e-commerce platforms... However, to avoid the possibility of individuals taking advantage of this form to sell on the market, the Ministry of Information and Communications can limit each person with a citizen ID card to only be able to register no more than 3 SIM cards online.
“The exploitation of online registration to sell junk SIMs can happen. However, tightening the number of SIMs activated online will solve this problem, because agents who want to have a source of goods must activate hundreds to thousands of SIMs with one citizen ID card to make it worth their effort. In addition, connecting the information of subscribers to the population database, videocall, and eKYC authentication is a solid basis for being able to handle subscribers if the SIM is used for illegal purposes,” said a representative of VinaPhone.
Virtual network waiting for online registration channel
Sharing with VietNamNet about this issue, the three virtual networks ITEL, ASIM, VNSKY affirmed that they have complied with the requirements of the Ministry of Information and Communications to solve the problem of junk SIMs. However, this implementation also leads to the fact that virtual networks no longer have any channels to develop subscribers because they have stopped cooperating to develop subscribers through the agent channel and stopped the online registration channel.
In addition, right after the Ministry of Information and Communications released a list of reputable distribution chains, these distribution chains increased their subscription development commission prices, some chains even increased the price up to 3 times.
Virtual mobile networks believe that online sales and service channels are an inevitable trend in the context of the 4.0 industrial revolution, a trend of widespread digital transformation in all industries and areas of society. With the ability to reach customers quickly, accurately and save on intermediaries, developing subscribers online is very suitable for the cost optimization goal that virtual networks pursue.
Faced with the above difficulties, the four virtual network operators have requested the Ministry of Information and Communications to consider allowing all network operators to test the deployment of subscriber development and provide telecommunications services online on the principle of absolute compliance with regulations on subscriber information management.
ITEL representative said that if network operators are allowed to test online personal information registration with strict control conditions such as connection and reconciliation with the population database of the Ministry of Public Security, eKYC and video call to authenticate users, with additional conditions of not allowing registration of more than 3 SIMs/citizen ID cards, it will strictly control the release of junk SIMs into the market like before.
“We have also calculated the number of SIMs registered online. If we only allow 1 SIM to be registered, it would be a bit extreme. Therefore, the number of 3 SIMs as proposed by VinaPhone is reasonable for both the network operator and the user,” said an ITEL representative.
ASIM representative also affirmed that the conditions for piloting controlled online registration as above are necessary, but also avoid causing inconvenience to customers if there is a regulation requiring video calls up to 2 times.
Agreeing with the above viewpoint of the network operators, VNSKY representative affirmed that they have complied with the requirements of the Ministry of Information and Communications to solve the problem of junk SIM cards. However, virtual network operators are currently in an extremely difficult situation and have almost frozen their business activities. Therefore, the solution for pilot network operators to register personal information online is a solution that needs to be considered soon, making it more convenient for network operators and customers.
Sharing with VietNamNet about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phuc, Director of the Telecommunications Department said: “Our point of view is to support the online registration form. However, the Ministry of Information and Communications will work with network operators to discuss ways to come up with measures to avoid the situation of taking advantage to legalize and "pump" more junk SIMs into the market, affecting society.”
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