The Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has issued strict guidelines for SIM card registration in bid to safeguard consumers from fraud and identity theft. The TRA issued the regulation on 31 December 2015. The authority, in cooperation with the mobile operators, will take a number of measures designed to regulate the registration and verification process for consumers applying for SIM-based telecommunication services in order to mitigate the rising number of identity theft and fraud cases. 

The regulation has also introduced a ceiling for the number of pre-paid SIM cards consumers may acquire, which has been set at 10 cards from each licensed mobile operator (Batelco, Zain, Viva). The regulation also limits the sale of SIM cards to the operators’ outlets and their resellers with formal approval from the TRA to conduct the registration and verification processes on behalf of the mobile operators. 

The new regulation will take effect within seven months of the date of issuance. Simultaneously, the TRA is planning an awareness campaign for consumers on the matter. It will caution them not to obtain SIM cards on behalf of others and refrain from leaving SIM cards registered in their names at the disposal of others.