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TELECOMS: Orange Cameroon to suspend unidentified telephone numbers

0 Feb. 27, 2021, 8:06 a.m.

Orange Cameroon has called on its subscribers to keep the identification of their telephone numbers to date or risk suspension of their lines.

In a message sent by Orange Cameroon since 25 February 2021, the telecoms operator called on orange subscribers to update their identification before 05 March 2021.

“Attention ⚠️, dear customers!!

If your ID card or receipt has expired, you risk suspension of your line.

Update your identification before March 05, 2021” Orange told its customers.

The company proceeded by guiding its customers on the steps to follow;

“Here is how to proceed :

➖ Send a photo of your new I.D. or renewed RECEIPT by WhatsApp to 695 05 05 05

➖ Or go to one of our agencies, with your ID card

If you wish to check your status, please call #199*31# “ Orange added.

Orange Cameroon wants to stay on a safe side from the Cameroon Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART) who might possibly fine or suspend the mobile telephone company after finding unidentified numbers as it (ART) did in 2019 by suspending over 70,000 non-compliant telephone numbers from Orange, MTN and Nexttel.

Recently, obtaining a valid identification document in Cameroon has been a matter of years.

Some mobile SIM card vendors, because of their personal interest tend to use identification documents found in the streets to pre-activate SIM cards to sell to customers who do not have the required identification documents.

A practice which the ART says “make[s] it impossible to reconcile the chip with its end user, who is no longer the previously identified subscriber” the telecoms regulatory board pointed.

According to ART, the identification of telephone numbers mandatory because Decree 2015/3759 stipulates that all mobile subscribers in the national territory must provide a valid identification to benefit from the services of mobile operators.

The security situation in Cameroon today also warrants that all telephone numbers be duly identified so as to be able to track down those who distort public order as well as scammers.