The Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) is raising its voice. In a press release sent to Socialnetlink, it recalls the legal obligation for operators and their distributors to ensure the formal identification of each subscriber when subscribing to telecommunications services.
This obligation, provided for by article 36 of law n°2018-28 of December 12, 2018, aims to guarantee user traceability while strengthening the security of mobile, Internet and telephone services in Senegal. However, recent checks in Dakar and other regions of the country reveal worrying failures in the implementation of this measure.
A legal procedure ignored by many points of sale
Despite a precise regulatory framework, many points of sale and distributors of the main operators – SONATEL (ORANGE), SAGA AFRICA HOLDINGS LIMITED (YAS), EXPRESSO, CSU (HAYO) and SIRIUS TELECOMS (PROMOBILE) – do not always comply with the instructions ‘identification. These shortcomings, noted by the ARTP, compromise compliance with regulations and raise risks linked to the fraudulent use of SIM cards.
Strict rules for all players
To stem this phenomenon, the ARTP has recalled the procedures that operators and their commercial partners must follow.
For individuals:
• Customers must physically present themselves when subscribing, or provide a legalized power of attorney if they cannot travel.
• A subscriber cannot have more than three SIM cards per operator.
• Clients must present:
-• A valid National Identity Card (CNI) or passport for Senegalese and ECOWAS nationals.
• A passport for foreigners from outside ECOWAS.
For businesses and other organizations:
• Presentation of legal documents, in particular the commercial register and the NINEA for local companies.
• Embassies and international organizations must provide a private law contract.
The ARTP calls on operators and the population
The authority calls for increased vigilance on the part of operators and citizens. Strict compliance with these provisions is a shared responsibility which must be applied to avoid abuses and ensure a more secure digital environment.
In the event of non-compliance, the ARTP warns that sanctions could be taken, without specifying for the moment the nature of the measures envisaged. This reminder comes in a context where the issues of cybersecurity and communications traceability have never been so crucial.
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