Deputy Minister Le Nam Thang told a press briefing Wednesday that all subscribers would have to furnish their name, ID or passport numbers, etc.The registration formalities would be simple and the information confidential.

The ministry said the service providers had been asked to follow this regulation latest by early October.

Users have two years’ time to register after which their service will be cut. The new rule is expected to protect users from prank calls and other forms of harassment, and also help authorities foil high-tech criminals who use cell phones to pass on information.

But it could discourage subscribers from using this service and cause revenues to drop, a mobile phone company official feared.

At the briefing, the ministry also agreed to award new network codes for major service operators MobiFone, VinaPhone, and Viettel to cope with the growing demand. They had sought permission to add another digit to their phone numbers. The three together serve around 20 million subscribers.

Source-Thanh Nien