Rwandans living in the Diaspora can now register their SIM cards online, saving them from having to return home to beat the July 31 registration deadline.
The online registration, still in the conceptual stages, will be undertaken by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA).
“We are working out a plan with telecom operators to create an entry pass that would allow those people register online,” RURA’s head communications and media regulations Jean Baptiste Mutabazi told The New Times.
Mutabazi added the move was a response to requests by Rwandans in the Diaspora owning SIM cards from Rwanda-based telecom operators to be given the option of registering from their countries of residence.
Beneficiaries will include diplomats and students, as well as members of the business community.
Rwanda’s main telecommunications companies – MTN, Tigo and Airtel – will help RURA with the process.
MTN’s customer operations manager Norman Munyampundu said the company would develop an application to allow Rwandans living abroad register their SIM cards online. The application will be uploaded to their website.
Currently, the three telecommunications companies allow their subscribers to use their Rwandan phone numbers while in some countries.
The ongoing SIM registration in Rwanda started on February 2004 and is expected to cover about six million SIM cards by the July 31 deadline. As of yesterday 3,839 SIM cards had been registered.
Many countries have adopted SIM registration to help service providers know their customers better, and help law enforcement agencies identify SIM card owners and track criminals.
