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Liberia has announced a July 2025 deadline for its nationwide SIM card registration initiative, which mandates linking SIM cards to national ID cards. This project, aiming to register 3.5 million Liberians, will kick off soon with an initial phase of free registration and verification to encourage broad public participation.
Abdullah L. Kamara, Acting Chairperson of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), emphasized that achieving full digital transformation in the country depends on establishing a robust database. This system is essential for safeguarding digital platforms and protecting subscribers from identity theft and other cybercrimes.
Under LTA regulations, all SIM card holders are required to register their SIMs with their Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) using unique identification cards issued by the National Identification Registry (NIR). Failure to comply with the six-month registration window will result in SIM card deactivation.
To facilitate the process, the NIR has established registration centers in every district and some townships across Liberia. With over 4 million active SIM cards in the country, the NIR has developed a centralized database capable of storing more than 7 million entries to accommodate future growth.
The LTA will oversee the compliance of this initiative, conducting regular evaluations of the registration process, while the NIR will manage the issuance of ID cards and verification platforms.
This is not Liberia’s first attempt to streamline its SIM card registration system. A similar effort in 2020 faced challenges due to low enrolment in the NIR database and technical hurdles. However, the government is optimistic that this revamped initiative will succeed, bolstered by its ongoing efforts to improve digital infrastructure.
Additionally, in May 2024, Liberia launched a Digital Transformation Project aimed at equipping 10,000 young people with digital skills, further underscoring the country’s commitment to embracing digital advancement.
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