Four Egyptian mobile operators face prosecution over illegal SIM card registrations

Egypt's telecommunications sector faces a significant crackdown as the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has referred all four major mobile operators to the Public Prosecution. The companies are accused of violating regulations by registering SIM cards under users' names without their explicit knowledge or consent.

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any citizen who discovers a mobile line registered under their name but not in their possession can visit a branch of the corresponding mobile company and sign a non-possession form.

Mohamed Ibrahim, spokesperson for the NTRA, announced the action on Radio Egypt, urging citizens to take advantage of their right to verify mobile numbers registered under their names. By presenting a national ID card at a company branch, individuals can obtain a list of all associated lines. If a line is registered but not in their possession, they can sign a non-possession form to immediately suspend it. Ibrahim also provided a clear channel for complaints, directing citizens to contact the NTRA via its hotline, a dedicated application, or its official website if company employees refuse to provide necessary data.

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citizens have the right, simply by presenting their national ID card, to obtain a list of all mobile numbers registered under their name.

The NTRA spokesperson stressed that possessing an unauthorized line does not automatically equate to legal responsibility for its use. He clarified that legal liability can only be established through official investigations, concrete evidence, and circumstantial proof. Penalties for the companies will fall into two categories: those handled by the Public Prosecution for criminal offenses and regulatory/administrative violations subject to NTRA's authority. The agency vows to continue enforcing stricter rules on mobile line sales to safeguard citizens' data confidentiality and privacy.

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having a mobile line registered under a citizen’s name without their possession does not automatically imply legal responsibility for any illegal use of that line.