Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) said they will introduce mandatory sim card registration by January, 2015.MACRA Communications Officer Clara Mulonya told journalists in the capital Lilongwe Tuesday that preparatory work for the exercise will commence this year.

“We are waiting for the review of the communications Act which is expected to be done soon. Once it’s done then preparations will start,” she said.

The project will be done in phases and will involve all licensed mobile operators.

Malawi has three licensed mobile operators, Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM), Airtel Malawi and Access Malawi.

Once implemented, she said, the mandatory sim registration will reduce misuse of mobile phone services which leads to criminal activities.

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