668 – SIM Verification System has been in place for quite some time now, and it is largely discussed topic in the industry these days.
PTA has been patted for introducing the service, while cellular companies are bearing the brunt – in terms of blocking their numbers and increased overhead due to the service.
“Good thing about 668 service is the “idea”, not the service”, commented a telecom guru, who wanted to remain un-identified, when we asked him if 668 is going to be the last solution or we gonna see another flop effort of eliminating illegal SIMs from the country.
He believed that, there was no other way to curb un-registered SIMs, or those that were registered with fake ids. “The idea evolved through 668 service is to tickle the end user, and make him concerned about those SIMs which are registered in his/her CNIC. This was the only possible way to make this country free of illegal SIMs”, commented the analyst.
He was of the opinion that PTA has tried multiple times in the past to curb unregistered SIMs, which includes the pressurizing the cellular companies, inspection of franchises, SIM data verification from NADRA and so on, however, all those efforts failed due to mechanics.
Thorough 668 system, PTA has made a common mobile user realize the importance of unregistered SIMs, by not letting him know the damages of an illegal SIM but also informing him about the amount of un-registered SIMs.
If carried away with dedication and watchdog’s severe eye, soon we should see complete elimination of illegal and unregistered SIMs.
But it is reported that selected mobile phone companies are contacting un-registered SIM holders and asking them to register SIMs instead of blocking them, despite a written request from those who own the registration of such SIMs.
“668 SIM verification system is going to be the last hope for having all those unregistered SIMs blocked, such efforts of keeping these SIMs active and alive will damage the core spirit of 668 SIM Verification System”, concluded the expert.
Industry understands that blocking all unregistered SIMs will cost the cellular companies pretty high, that counts the overhead, revenues coming from those SIMs, the companies’ market position due to loss of millions of customers. By the way, it is anticipated that at least 12 million SIMs will go down with help of 668 SIM verification system.
Now this portal is giving totally wrong data now a week ago it was fine, as i have few SIMS on my NIC but it shows 0 record.
I have again confirmed it by sending SMS to 667 from my number
PTA has done its job with the launch of this service. Now it is the responisbility of Mobile operator to block unregistered sims on request. Although it seems so hard for a company to loose its revenue by blocking sim, but in current scenario, the companies should bear these loss to stop the illegal use of sims. It has been reported that in 95% crimes, mobile has been used. so, for the sack of the nation, they should block the sims.
Well, In my experience the Cellular companies are not providing correct data to PTA. Because i found many mistakes in the data. e.g, I have two warid registered sims which i am using for about 4 years. I have double confirmed from the ownership from Business centre. But 668 is not showing it! many more bugs are still there.
it is a good service… they should msg every number to inform them abt this service becoz many ppl dont use internet.. so how can they know abt that…
its buggy for sure..plus there is surely decline of ppl interest now.. the one who cared .. did da corrections but in my honest opinion majority of ppl simply doesn’t care…
its good to call customer to get his sim restrd insted of blocking. As a customer snatching war is going on among all operators.
no one can afford to lose customers these days.
if you see 0 registeration againsnt your NIC in 668 SMS. while you have 2 or more sims register agaisnt your NIC. note that PTA and cellular companies only shows the quantity of those numbers which have physically NICs are recieved. they do not show the 789 Activations data in 668 SMS you can try….
Agreed with Amir. Whatever the idea is good
IT IS A GOOD SERVICE BUT ALL WRONG NUMBERS SHOULD BLOCK THROUGH HELP LINE BECAUSE FRANCHSE AND SALES AND SERVICE CENTERS ARE NOT GOOD FOR THIS