PUBLIC ANNOUNCMENT
MANDATORY REGISTRATION OF SIM CARDS AND GENERIC NUMBERS
The Communications Act (2016) gives powers to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to enforce mandatory registration of sim cards and generic numbers.
In collaboration with all phone companies in Malawi, MACRA is therefore calling upon the general public to go to their respective phone service providers to have their numbers registered by 31st March, 2018. Any number that is not registered by this date will automatically be barred from its network until registration is done.
New subscribers are advised to register upon acquisition of their numbers with the service provider, be it the phone company, distributor, agent or dealer of the electronic communications licensee,  authorized  to  provide  or  sell  generic numbers or sim cards.
REQUIRED INformATION FROM SUBSCRIBERS
(a)   Individual subscriber
•   Full name
•   Gender
•   Date of birth
•   Identity card number, or any other document that proves the identity of the subscriber; and
•   Residential and business or registered physical address of the subscriber
(b) Legal entity
•   Certificate of registration or incorporation
•   Business licence
•   Where applicable, tax payer identification certificate number
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
The following documents will be used for identification
•   Passport
•   Drivers licence
•   National ID
•   Guardians will register for minors
Any number not registered by 31st of March, 2018 will be barred from its network.
Operators are obliged to register all new subscribers upon acquisition of their numbers.
MANAGEMENT