Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has warned mobile service providers, Viettel and Smart, not to sell SIM cards without user identification. The Ministry says it has received reports from a number of locations that SIM cards are being sold without the buyer having to provide proof of identification.

It has reminded both Viettel and Smart that the practice is against the law and that even if they are not found to have sold the SIM cards directly themselves, they are still complicit. It says the practice must stop immediately, or the mobile service providers concerned will face serious consequences.

Some of the penalties the Ministry has outlined include having their mobile service license revoked, putting a freeze on all operator requests and taking legal action against all those involved in the illegal transactions.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications says it will continue to monitor the situation and take the “strictest action in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to any mobile phone service provider who has committed an illegal act”.