By Joseph George

Etisalat and Du customers who registered their mobile numbers as part of the My Number, My Identity programme may have to re-register the numbers before the expiry of their Emirates ID or visa to avoid facing immediate suspension of service.

A document prepared by the UAE’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) laying out the guidelines for registration requirements states that mobile SIM Card and mobile services may be suspended if the consumer does not submit the required and verifiable registration information prior to the date of expiry.

The initial registration process that was initiated three years ago required users to register their numbers by either producing a valid Emirates ID or passport with a valid visa.

However, guidelines issued by the TRA required that the number be re-registered upon the expiry of the document that was produced as proof for registration.

According to TRA's 'Registration Requirements for Mobile Consumers' issued in September 2011, the expiry date is deemed to be the expiry date of the individual’s visa or residence, or the expiry date of the passport, whichever comes sooner in case the individual is neither a UAE citizen nor a GCC citizen.

It also makes it mandatory for all operators to issue a notification or an advice no less than one calendar month prior to the registration expiry date.

“The licensee shall advise the mobile consumer that his or her registration will expire, and the date of that expiry; advise the mobile consumer that his or her mobile SIM card and mobile services will be suspended unless the mobile consumer submits the required and verifiable registration information for registration renewal prior to the date of expiry,” the note states.

“If the Mobile Consumer does not submit the required and verifiable Registration Information prior to the date of expiry, the Licensee shall Suspend the Mobile Consumer’s Mobile SIM Card and mobile services, and give the Mobile Consumer notice of the Suspension within twenty-four (24) hours,” the TRA document states.

The same procedures would be followed in case the customers use false registration information.

Once the service is suspended, the customer will be provided three months to issue the required documents or else the number could be permanently deactivated following which it can be issued to a third party.

“Every notice of suspension given to the mobile consumer shall state that unless the mobile consumer submits the required and verifiable registration information prior to the expiry of three (3) months from the date of the suspension, his or her mobile SIM card and mobile services will be deactivated.

“Once a SIM card and mobile services have been deactivated, the licensee (operator) is under no obligation to accept any additional registration information from that person… and is entitled to reuse the number,” the document adds.

Etisalat users can actually re-register their mobile numbers online.

Click here - for additional details.

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