The Communications Authority(CA) has proposed regulations that will have sim card hawkers face six months in jail or Sh300, 000 fine in a move to streamline the SIM card regulation by agents.
The Authority says the new rules will help telcos like Safaricom, airtel and Telkom get rid of fraudulent subscribers.
The telcos have also been compelled to only employ registration agents who the authority has licensed and those found in breach of the regulations punished.
“Telecommunications Operations and Registration Agents shall sell and register SIM cards only in formal retail outlets even during promotions, and shall ensure no hawking of SIM card registration services,” states the proposed guidelines
CA has also directed the telcos to set up a portal through which they will submit quarterly reports for access by the authority. The reports will also provide data on firms’ new registered subscribers and those switched off.
The regulations are subject to public participation.
