The Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA) will collect unregistered Sim cards and close down all franchises of telecom companies that issue Sim cards without proper identification of subscribes.
ATRA accused telecom companies of ignoring the laws in registering subscribers and issued a two-week ultimatum for them to bring their operations in line with regulations or risk action.
"A number of private telecommunication companies ignore Ministry of Telecommunication regulations, which they have signed and agreed to. The ministry will soon take action against them," said ATRA deputy head, Khair Mohammad Faizi.
Insurgents and criminals often use unregistered Sim cards in staging attacks and committing crimes, according to ATRA.
Three telecom companies have been fined a combined AFN50 million for legal infractions over the past four months alone, said Faizi. Three franchises in the first police district in Kabul that sold Sim cards illegally have already been closed and 300 unregistered Sim cards have been seized. Three people have been arrested in the operation, Faizi added.