Real-name Registration Required for New Mobile Numbers

Another day, another regulation. Back in May China Daily reported on proposed regulations that would require mobile phone subscribers to register their real names. According to the Global Times today, this proposal is now becoming a reality in the capital: “Starting from Monday, all new mobile phone users in Beijing are required to register with their real names and ID numbers, and expats their passport numbers, for mobile phone services.”

Confusingly, the report doesn’t specify whether the regulations came into effect yesterday, or will be effective from next Monday.

Amusingly, the article also notes that, “Existing customers will soon receive a text message from their service provider saying that they are ‘encouraged’ to go to a retail store and register.”

Yes, we can definitely see that happening.

With 747 million cell phone users in China at the end of last year, it will be interesting to see if anyone actually bothers trying to enforce these new rules. Somehow we can’t see the average newspaper stand vendor carefully noting down ID card numbers or passport details every time they sell a SIM card.

This is also not the first these “regulations” have been announced. In December 2005, Xinhua reported “China's 200 million cell-phone owners who use prepaid cards will soon have to register with their telecom provider or face a cutoff in service.” Then in October 2006 Xinhua stated: “China's mobile phone users will have to register using their real names starting next year, according to the Ministry of Information Industry.”

Like we said, another day, another regulation. Or the same old regulation announced and ignored.