PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) and its value brand TNT are requesting the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for an extension of SIM registration. 

“We are filing this request to help give ample time to all mobile users, particularly the marginalized sectors and those located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the country, to register their SIMs,” Cathy Yang, first vice president and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart, said in a statement.

The SIM registration commenced on Dec. 27, 2022 and is scheduled to end on April 26, 2023.

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“We are here to support the government in its SIM Registration initiative,” Yang said. “We see the need to give subscribers more time to secure the government IDs required to register their SIMs. We stand ready with government to support any undertaking to fast track completing the SIM Registration process as required by law.”

SIM registration booths

Smart has set up hundreds of assisted SIM Registration booths in far-flung municipalities nationwide, in collaboration with organizer NTC, DICT, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the inter-agency committee on remote areas registration, and other public telecommunications entities. These booths offer information and guidance on how to register Smart or TNT SIMs using acceptable ID cards and provide physical assistance to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those using non-data phones.

“Over the past 10 days, our daily registration numbers have ballooned as more customers catch up before the deadline,” Yang added.

Failure to register SIM cards results in SIM deactivation.

SIM registration takes only less than five minutes (if all pieces of information needed are already available) and requires only one government ID. 

New and existing Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers may access Smart’s SIM registration portal through https://www.smart.com.ph/simreg, while Postpaid customers can simply text YES to 5858 to confirm their registration.