Wednesday 3 December 2025
Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr has announced that SIM card registration rules for Papua New Guinea will be updated to align with the new National Digital ID Policy 2025.
“I wish to inform the public and all licensed telecommunications operators that I have now formally issued directions to NICTA under Section 11 of the National ICT Act 2009 to commence consultation on a revised SIM Card Registration Regulation,” Tsiamalili stated.
The Acting ICT Minister said the National ICT Authority (NICTA) will begin consultations on a revised regulation, following the launch of SevisPass and the SevisWallet App at the Digital Transformation Summit 2025.
“A draft SIM Card Registration (Amendment and Consolidation) Regulation 2026 is being prepared by NICTA with a view to commence consultation immediately.”
Minister Tsiamlili gave an overview of some key policy directions that the draft Regulation gives effect to:
- SevisPass as Digital ID for SIMs (18+)
- All adults (18+) will be required to have a SevisPass and link their SIMs via the SevisWallet App.
- No new adult SIM will be activated without SevisPass-based eKYC through SevisDEx.
2. Digital ID Structure for Youth and Children
- SevisPass-Minor (13–17 years): Teenagers will be allowed to hold SIMs in their own name using a Minor Digital ID, which
is linked to a parent or guardian’s SevisPass. - Dependent SIMs (0–12 years): Children 12 and under will not hold SIMs in their own name. Any SIM used by them must be registered as a Dependent SIM under a parent or guardian’s SevisPass.
3. Digital ID Grace Period for Existing SIMs
- A Digital ID Grace Period is proposed for 1 January 2026 – 30 June 2026.
- During this period, all existing SIM holders must:
- obtain SevisPass (or SevisPass-Minor), and
- link each active SIM to their Digital ID via SevisWallet.
- After 30 June 2026, SIMs that are not linked to a valid SevisPass / SevisPass-Minor / Dependent arrangement will be deactivated.
4. Designated Digital ID Implementation Authority & eKYC/CDD Fees
- A Designated Digital ID Implementation Authority will operate SevisPass, SevisWallet and SevisDEx, and will provide eKYC (onboarding) and CDD (ongoing ID checks) services to operators.
- The Authority will be able to charge operators a fee per eKYC and per CDD check, under a fee schedule reviewed and approved in consultation with DICT, NICTA, and BPNG.
- Citizens will not be charged for getting SevisPass or linking their SIMs. The commercial relationship is between the Authority and the operators.
5. Annual Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
- Every active SIM will undergo at least one digital ID re-verification every 12 months using SevisPass/SevisPass-Minor via SevisDEx.
- SIMs that do not complete CDD will first be placed on limited access and then deactivated if the check is not completed within the required timeframe.
6. Interoperability and Cost Sharing
- All operators will be required to integrate with SevisDEx for identity verification and SIM activation.
- Interoperability costs will be shared among operators, overseen by NICTA in line with NEC Decision No. 183/2025.
7. Data Protection and Consumer Safeguards
- The new Regulation will align with the Data Governance and Protection Policy 2024 and the National Cyber Security Policy.
- Telcos will no longer store raw biometrics; they will rely on SevisPass tokens instead.
- NICTA will regulate how any eKYC/CDD cost recovery is handled to ensure fairness and transparency for consumers.
SevisPass and SevisDEx form a key part of our Digital Public Infrastructure. Embedding them into SIM registration ensures that every phone number in PNG is tied to a verified, sovereign Digital ID, while still protecting privacy and giving young people a safe, structured way to be online.
Some key objectives also include:
- Cleaning up the SIM ecosystem,
- Reducing fraud, scams and crime,
- Meeting our AML/CTF obligations, and
- Opening doors for easier access to banking, government and online services using a trusted, PNG-owned Digital ID.
Minister Tsiamalili Jr. said the changes will strengthen trust in mobile services while protecting privacy and giving young people a safe way to connect online.
“I look forward to NICTA’s swift action and to constructive engagement from all operators and stakeholders as we move to finalise and gazette the new SIM Card Registration Regulation.”
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