Thailand's NBTC to impose new system to register prepaid SIM cards

[webfact]

NBTC to impose new system to register prepaid SIM cards
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation


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BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is expected to introduce this month a new way for telecoms to register new prepaid mobile-phone subscribers in its attempt to regulate this market and encourage new customers to register their SIM cards.

If people decline to participate in this new application-based method, their SIM cards will not be activated, according to NBTC deputy secretary-general Korkij Danchaivichit.

An NBTC source said this would also comply with the "national security" policy of the military coup-makers' National Council for Peace and Order.

However, this registration method cannot be used with pre-activated SIM cards that have already been circulated in the market. The method will be used with new lots of the SIM cards, which are not pre-activated. The NBTC has instructed all five mobile-phone operators to adopt it.

Here is how it works. The staff member selling the SIM card will download the app on to the mobile phone. The app is compatible with all mainstream mobile-phone operating systems. He or she will use the app to take a picture of the SIM card code and the buyer's ID card.

Then the app will immediately send these data to the NBTC's computer server, which is connected with the servers of the five telecom operators. The NBTC server will verify the ID card information, and if correct, will send the verified data back to the telecom operator's server, which will activate the SIM card.

Korkij insisted that the data would not be stored in the mobile phones of shop staff, so the buyers need not worry about security.

The NBTC has instructed the telecom operators to launch campaigns to woo existing prepaid mobile-phone subscribers to register their SIM cards by this method. For example, such a campaign might offer additional wireless data usage time to those registering their existing SIM cards.

He said the NBTC was expected to introduce this new registration method before the end of this month.

Of the total of about 100 million mobile-phone numbers currently in use in Thailand, 90 per cent are prepaid. However, just a few are registered with the operators.

The NBTC imposed regulations requiring the operators to register information of the buyers of new prepaid SIM cards years ago but few consumers cooperated, reluctant to provide copies of their identity cards. The commission believes that this application-based method will make registering much more convenient for consumers.

The telecom operators have asked for authorisation from the Central Administrative Court to waive the existing regulations governing SIM card registration, claiming they are impractical.


-- The Nation 2014-06-16

[noitom]

"Need not worry about security." So says the Thai and the Thai press in describing how it works. No one will need to be concerned that SIM card sellers will not breach personal information security. The Thais say so, it must be so.

[Pib]

Here is how it works. The staff member selling the SIM card will download the app on to the mobile phone. The app is compatible with all mainstream mobile-phone operating systems. He or she will use the app to take a picture of the SIM card code and the buyer's ID card.

Then the app will immediately send these data to the NBTC's computer server, which is connected with the servers of the five telecom operators. The NBTC server will verify the ID card information, and if correct, will send the verified data back to the telecom operator's server, which will activate the SIM card.

Verify the ID. Now I can see that possibly occurring if the NBTC computers are connected the the national system that contains all Thai ID card numbers, but that system don't contains foreigner passport numbers....expect any farang passport number information would be in the immigration database. I expect "If" any verification is really done it's will just be a handshake between the App and NBTC that the photo was received. Expect this really is nothing more than to get a photo of the SIM and ID card/passport. Thais sure like paperwork...real paperwork or the new age digital paperwork.

[wxpwzrd]

Like I would ever let a shop person download anything to my phone. I had to stop the Samsung shop in the mall from "helping me" when I bought my Note 3. They didn't even ask first.

[Tokay]

No thanks. First of all, at this stage, I don't believe ANYTHING coming from ANY media source within Thailand. When the military no longer controls them, I'll consider taking what they say seriously. Secondly, they can hardly cook a hotdog properly at 7-11 and pick their nose around the clock, they are not touching my phone.

[GreasyFingers]

What happens if you do not use the phone for internet services? Mine is used purely as a phone (dinosaur I know, but I have enough trouble reading a computer screen let alone the phone screen0.

[backstairs]

My phone went 'Mobile Operation not in operation' last week. I moved the SIM card to my old phone. Then I got 'Unregistered'. So I took it to AIS. They asked me to wait 20 minutes. They issued me with a new SIM card [old one 2G new one 3] and my number remained the same. And they asked me to register. This involved writing my name and signing at the bottom.

[ezzra]

More draconian measures, more rules, more regulations, and they do with all that information?

nothing, nada, lip service from the bureaucrats, hey look at us, we 're working here....

[Chao Lao Beach]

So how does it save am image and not save it on the phone ?

[Docno]

Hmmm... I have a fair number of friends who travel with an old-school phone. No camera. No fancy operating system. Etc. What happens with them?

[masuk]

More draconian measures, more rules, more regulations, and they do with all that information?

nothing, nada, lip service from the bureaucrats, hey look at us, we 're working here....

Registering your ID and new SIM is common practice in most countries. You want a SIM card, you register name and address, show your ID or passport. Easy done. Thailand is just catching up with the rest of the world.

There are also security aspects to this, I'm sure, where stolen SIM cards are used for remote control of things that go bang.

[Chang_paarp]

Not keen on the big brother aspect here as, like many, I do not trust the folk to be honest. Having said that, it is required to register sim cards in many other countries.

One side benefit of registering, if you phone is stolen you can get your old number back.

[wilcopops]

It is becoming a characteristic of the incumbent to want to keep an every tighter watch/control on the populous. This will give them a good grip on social media.

[fab4]

Curious that The Nation has no articles on the new "National Internet Gateway" being planned for the next couple of months - The great Wall of Thailand.

[Jeffrey346]

I want to know who the genius is who created this process. Download the app...BS. Never gonna happen. Why not have the app pre installed on the SIM.

[Mango Bob]

I hope they plan to give this information to the NSA and CIA so we can better track phones.

[andre47]

Software (with a backdoor) on my phone??? No!!

Information's are send directly to the NSA. Big brother does always know what we are doing.

[LukKrueng]

There was such an attempt to register prepaid phones years ago and nothing happened at the end. I suspect the same will be now.

And as for downloading the app - I think they meant the app will be on the shop keepers' phone, not the customers' as it says "Korkij insisted that the data would not be stored in the mobile phones of shop staff, so the buyers need not worry about security."

[6NS]

My phone went 'Mobile Operation not in operation' last week. I moved the SIM card to my old phone. Then I got 'Unregistered'. So I took it to AIS. They asked me to wait 20 minutes. They issued me with a new SIM card [old one 2G new one 3] and my number remained the same. And they asked me to register. This involved writing my name and signing at the bottom.

It's no coincidence at all that the army comes in all ready to take large steps like having all foreigners and all phone numbers registered. No, it will not be paper registration nor will all documentation they presently gather. There computer system will surely be given to them will rules and regulations, and where to send the funds.

When a new government, per-say, is placed, it always comes from the direction of the IMF families. Yes the IMF is privately owned as is banks with names like

THE FEDERAL RESERVE, CENTRAL BANK OF such and such,,,,,every country has one. They want us enslaved and need records to watch and control us.

It's not the USA, it's the people who are doing the same to them. The people behind the scenes run all governments. 130 countries went bankrupt to the IMF people in 1930, it was then they created the Birth Certificate. The 130 countries promised to repay the IMF people with our labor, without our permission. Other countries have fallen since then and all will.

Watch what the so-called Alcida (sorry, no spell check for this word yet) will do with the Middle-east over the next 5 years. One new Arab state like the Euro nations. A common Americas, a common Asia, not sure where Russia will fit in or whether there will be a fight or not but the end goal is to control all of us in their NEW WORLD ORDER. We work and they enjoy. By the way,,,there are way too many of us on this earth to keep them happy. Many of us must leave.

I'm sure many of you know all this but please do educate others that don't.

Google any portion I just spoke about above.

Alcida is American CIA which was set up for the IMFs interest...Period...the same goes for the new "privet" army they say will be needed in the US.

Thailand will never be the same.

[Benmart]

Thailand is simply catching up with numerous other countries. Not everyone that uses a SIM enabled device does so for legitimate purposes.

I live here and I obey the laws. When I can't or won't, I will move on.

[garyinhuahin]

Similar system in effect in India for a long time. Probably elsewhere, I'm guessing.

[terryp]

NO WAY ..i have just bought a couple of new numbers and activated them, I will just keep topping them up and if i never need them its no great loss...but MY personal data is

[tomyummer]

Brilliant idea. Can work even for tourists and foreigners. If for any crime prevention or safety, it's a good idea.

Edited June 16, 2014 by tomyummer

[csroland]

Tourists, get out of Thailand....err...so lots of tourist should use their domestic SIMs in Thailand. Did I miss something? Btw, ID number or passport number as well?

If only ID numbers will be accepted, then it is time to introduce a similar system like ROK has.

[kmj]

Skype is your friend ( other apps are available )

[terryp]

Thailand is simply catching up with numerous other countries. Not everyone that uses a SIM enabled device does so for legitimate purposes.

I live here and I obey the laws. When I can't or won't, I will move on.

there is no catching up Thailand is being told to do this by the IMF/WB all part of enslavement...remember most phones now have GPS TRACKING, so all the donkeys saying good for knowing where the bad people are ..they are just idiots who just cant grasp what is really going on here (hint the bad people are funded by your hereos NSA, CIA, MI5, MOSAD etc)

[kmj]

Brilliant idea. Can work even for tourists and foreigners. If for any crime prevention or safety, it's a good idea.

Maybe for crime prevention and safety lets just chip everyone, hands up for it, I'll be behind you in the queue

Edited June 16, 2014 by kmj

[terryp]

Brilliant idea. Can work even for tourists and foreigners. If for any crime prevention or safety, it's a good idea.

nice to see so many football fans are still awake at 09:40

[kamahele]

This is common in the US. You can still buy a "burner phone" there, but it is rare for residents to not register with a certain service provider. Those using burner phones in the US are usually up to no good anyways.In Thailand, I wouldn't give my information to a shop at MBK but certainly wouldn't have an issue at 7-11 or Dtac or True etc. I think this is more an inconvenience for Thai people than for foreigners.

Edited June 16, 2014 by kamahele

[madmitch]

This is the third time this has been announced in the past few years. The first time it seemed to be taken seriously for a couple of months then forgotten about, the second time I don't think it took off. My SIM is registered from about 7 years ago, so they should in theory still hold my records.