Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has published a public consultation on new regulations for registering prepaid customers. The new regulation requires the licensees to follow a more rigorous registration and verification process for new subscribers, as well as to fully update the registration details of all existing prepaid mobile subscribers to ensure the accuracy of information listed in the licensees’ database. 

The TRA said it was taking steps to address the increase in civil and criminal cases involving prepaid SIM cards. Due to the manner in which the current registration and verification processes are conducted, prepaid mobile subscribers have been found to have several SIM cards registered in their name without their consent or knowledge, which can pose serious legal or financial risks should any misuse with these numbers occur.