#Globe, the leading mobile provider in the country, is prepared to fully cooperate with a government audit of its #SIMregistration database in response to ongoing scam text messages.
Darius Delgado, Globe’s Vice President and Head of Consumer Mobile Business, stated that such an audit would validate the integrity of Globe’s SIM registration database and its continuous efforts to improve its SIM registration platform.
“We are in the second year of implementing the SIM Registration Act, and the DICT’s call is timely. We see this as a chance to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the validation of our SIM registration data,” said Delgado.
He noted that most scam messages reaching mobile users now are sent via over-the-top media services or chat apps, Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats for Android users, other internet-based messaging platforms, and fake cell towers, rather than through telco networks.
Globe reiterated its call for the full implementation of the National ID system to standardize the type of ID accepted for SIM registration, thereby enhancing the process’s credibility. The current law permits the use of various types of government-issued IDs, which may be susceptible to tampering or even forgery.
GCash has been selected to pilot the government’s National ID eVerify Platform, which will verify the identities of customers in public and private sector transactions.
SIM Data Sweep
Last year, Globe began a sweep of its SIM registration data following reports of non-human photos being used to register SIMs. Since then, it has been deactivating unverified submissions.
Earlier, it also deactivated and removed over 30 million unregistered SIMs from its subscriber base after the registration period (December 27, 2022 to July 30, 2023) for SIMs in use before the SIM Registration Act came into effect.
To ensure the security of its SIM registration platform, Globe implements the following measures:
- Advanced encryption protocols to secure data transmission during registration
- Live photo capture technology to prevent the use of stock or pre-existing photos
- Limited ID submission retries to guard against attempts to register SIMs using fake documents
Globe continues to proactively block SIMs associated with fraudulent activity. In Q1 2024, it blacklisted 36,549 SIMs from other networks, a 62% increase compared to the 22,455 competitor SIMs blocked during the same period last year. Globe also deactivated 841 SIMs from its network in Q1 2024 after they were identified as potential sources of spam or scam SMS, or misuse.
In September 2022, Globe was the first telco in the country to implement the unprecedented measure of blocking all person-to-person SMS with clickable links, a requirement that the National Telecommunications Commission imposed on other telcos a year later. This has effectively eliminated scam and spam SMS within the Globe network.
Globe currently serves 58.8 million mobile subscribers.
To learn more about Globe’s SIM registration efforts, please visit their website.
FAQs
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What is the purpose of the government audit on Globe’s SIM registration database? The audit aims to affirm the integrity of Globe’s SIM registration database and its efforts to consistently enhance its SIM registration platform.
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What measures does Globe implement to ensure the security of its SIM registration platform? Globe uses advanced encryption protocols, live photo capture technology, and limits ID submission retries to secure its SIM registration platform.
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How does Globe handle SIMs linked to fraudulent activity? Globe proactively blocks SIMs linked to fraudulent activity. It blacklists SIMs from other networks and deactivates SIMs from its network identified as potential sources of spam or scam SMS, or misuse.
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What is the National ID eVerify Platform? The National ID eVerify Platform is a government initiative that will authenticate the identities of customers in public and private sector transactions. GCash has been selected to pilot this platform.