Papua New Guinea intends to join the growing list of countries insisting on SIM card registration after a lengthy consultation process that ended recently.
The country’s National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) last month officially concluded its nationwide consultation on what it calls the Draft SIM Card Registration (Amendment and Consolidation) Regulation 2026.
The consultation began on the 17th of December 2025 and was meant to end on the 31st of January 2026 but was further extended by one month to the 28th of February. It included workshops with telecommunications operators, government agencies, industry stakeholders and members of the public. Last week it was announced that the findings will now inform the finalisation of the planned new regulation.
The updated framework is designed to align SIM card registration with the National Digital Identity Policy 2025 and the rollout of SevisPass, Papua New Guinea's Digital ID.
Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology Peter Tsiamalili Jr says the review is central to strengthening national security and digital trust. He explains: “The objective of the updated regulation is to ensure that all SIM card users in Papua New Guinea are uniquely and reliably identifiable, while strengthening national security, consumer protection and compliance with national data governance and cybersecurity policies.”
Under the proposed framework, all adult subscribers will be required to hold a valid SevisPass Digital ID, while minors will be registered under SevisPass-Minor or Dependent SIM arrangements linked to a parent or guardian.
Identity verification will be conducted through electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) services using the SevisWallet app and SevisDEx interoperability platform.
The rollout of SevisPass and SevisWallet is described as a milestone in PNG’s digital transformation journey, enabling citizens to securely verify their identity online, access government services, and manage trusted digital credentials through a single national platform.
Papua New Guineans are therefore being encouraged to download the SevisWallet App and begin enrolling for their SevisPass Digital ID, enabling them not only to comply with the upcoming SIM card registration requirements but also to access a growing range of digital services.
