CITC requires subscribers to produce ID to recharge prepaid SIMs

Saudi Arabia is set to go ahead with the requirement of proof of identification before a person can recharge a prepay SIM card, reports in the kingdom suggest.

The proposals, originally announced by the regulator, the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), will require the registration of the purchaser’s national ID number with the prepay phone number.

When a top-up is added to the account, the ID number will need to be added again.

"We are still resolved to implement the decision. Telecommunications companies operating in the kingdom had asked for a time period to make the necessary changes to their system to support the regulation," CITC governor, Abdullah Al-Darrab said.