Your Six-Month Deadline to Register Your SIM Card Correctly
Mr. Chea Vandeth, the Minister of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC), recently announced a crucial new plan. This strict rule is meant to make online activities safer for everyone and stop people from using phone numbers without proper identification.
Speaking at a major meeting about Cambodia’s digital future on December 6, 2025, the Minister confirmed the ministry is giving everyone six more months to fix their phone registration. The goal is simple: Every phone number must be officially registered to the person who actually uses it.
The Minister explained: “Right now, some people are using phone numbers registered under someone else’s name. We are working to stop this. In about six months, we will completely get rid of all SIM cards being used under another person’s identity.”
You Must Register by Mid-2026
The new rule has a very clear end date:
- Final Deadline: By June 2026, if you are using a SIM card registered under another person’s name, that number will be switched off and you won’t be able to use it anymore.
Why This Rule Is Necessary
The Minister highlighted why the government is taking this step, which comes from old habits in the industry:
- The Old Way: In the past, mobile companies often gave out or sold SIM cards easily to get more customers. They didn’t always check for the correct ID of the person who would actually use the phone.
- The Problem It Created: This old leniency allowed some sellers or middlemen to use just one of their own ID cards to buy and register hundreds of SIM cards at once, which they then sold to others.
Using phone numbers without the true owner’s name creates major risks: it makes our public spaces less secure, makes it easier for criminals to commit online scams and other crimes, and makes it harder for the government to manage digital services safely.
The MPTC strongly asks everyone currently using a SIM card not registered in their own name to go immediately and register it using their personal ID before the deadline. This is the only way to avoid losing your current phone number forever.