Limiting SIMs to 5 per NID a rumour: BTRC

Recent media reports suggesting that the government has decided to reduce the SIM registration limit to five per NID from January 1, 2026, are incorrect and misleading.

Such misinformation creates unnecessary confusion among customers and businesses, a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BRTC) statement said on Tuesday, December 30.

The BTRC also emphasises that limiting SIM numbers is not an effective or sustainable solution to address crime, fraud, or misuse of mobile services.

These challenges are more effectively managed through strong KYC enforcement, real-time monitoring, data analytics, and advanced fraud-detection mechanisms, rather than by placing blanket restrictions on legitimate users and enterprises.

Overly restrictive policies may inadvertently push users toward informal or unregulated channels, increasing security risks instead of reducing them.

The telecommunications sector remains committed to supporting individual users, entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, and technology-enabled services, while safeguarding customer rights and freedom of choice, it added.

Source: UNB