In October 2011 the Ministry of Police and National Security made an official announcement advising the general public that in the interest of National Security under the Telecommunications Act edition 2002 section 44 (5), Belize Telemedia Limited and Speednet telephone companies will begin the mandatory registration of all existing pre-paid cellular numbers. The public was further advised that at the end of the six-month registration period, all unregistered phones will automatically be disconnected by the respective telephone company.
The six month registration period has come and gone and an extended deadline was given. According to Digicell’s Facebook account, customers were being advised to register their phones by Thursday, July 12, 2012, as all unregistered phones will be shut down on Friday, July 13, 2012.
The main reason for the registering of cell phone numbers is in order to fight crime, a demand made by the government last year. Not too many people took this serious the first time around, so BTL and SMART had to prolong the deadline of the registering of phones to this month. This time around they will take action and have announced that all unregistered phones will be shut down if not registered by the deadline given.
If you have not registered your pre-paid cellular number, don’t want your phone to be shut down and have to get a new number be sure to register your phone TODAY!! When registering your phone you will need to carry with you an ID, passport or your social security card.
