Plans to block SIM cards of foreigners who have not re-identified themselves and re-entered into communication service agreements became known on the sidelines of the "Spectrum" forum. If a foreigner does not re-register using their biometric data by the end of November, they will lose their number.
According to a Roskomnadzor representative, about 3.8 million foreign citizens, owning a total of 8.2 million phone numbers, have already undergone re-identification at the offices of telecom operators.
In 2024, Roskomnadzor analyzed data on SIM cards of mobile operators and identified 26 million phone numbers registered to 11.5 million foreign citizens and stateless persons. In accordance with the plan agreed with telecom operators, re-identification of all foreign citizens is being carried out using a special system for monitoring the status of identification modules created by Roskomnadzor.
Approximately 4.5 million SIM cards that have not undergone the owner's identity verification procedure in a timely manner at the SIM card sales offices of telecom operators will be blocked after the re-verification deadlines expire.
Roskomnadzor also intends to introduce a ban on the sale of active SIM cards on online platforms if they are distributed by persons not authorized by telecom operators.
Law on the circulation of SIM cards in Russia
The document tightening the circulation and use of SIM cards was signed by President Vladimir Putin on August 8, 2024. According to this law, now:
- no more than 20 SIM cards can be registered to a citizen of Russia, and no more than 10 SIM cards to a foreigner. This rule also applies to corporate SIM cards;
- telecom operators, before starting to provide communication services, are obliged to verify the accuracy of information about the subscriber using, in particular, Gosuslugi and the Unified Biometric System (UBS) or when confirming passport data in organizations determined by the government;
- an agreement on the provision of communication services with a foreigner or a stateless person can be concluded if his/her data is available in the UBS and only in person. The agreement will indicate the IMEI number of the device in which the SIM card is used. These requirements do not apply to diplomatic staff and their family members;
- cash payment for communication services, according to the law, will be possible only after identification of the payer in bank branches, postal services, other organizations determined by the government, as well as through specially equipped terminals that meet the requirements established by the government;
- telecom operators are obliged to verify data about all their subscribers. By the end of November 2024, telecom operators must verify and re-register subscribers who are foreigners and stateless persons. By July 1, 2025, telecom operators will be obliged to bring agreements with foreigners into compliance (in terms of submitting to the UBS, indicating IMEI and the number of SIM cards). Verification of Russian citizens will take a little longer: until November 1, 2025.
Also, according to the document, the government is entitled to establish specific features of the application of the new provisions of the law in new and border regions for the period up to 2030.
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