SIM swap

[oafpatroll]

I still feel that MTN wants to stay the market leader in illegal SIM swaps.

I don't doubt this for a second. They could implement tighter controls around swaps with almost no money and little operational impact but they would lose revenue as the bandwidth that's stolen is used on their network and is then replaced by the victims. That they don't speaks volumes.

It's exactly the same scenario as with them not killing access to phones reported as stolen. It's just not in their interests to do it as they'd lose revenue.

[Johann du Toit]

Cellular providers could end cellphone theft today by agreeing to block and blacklist all stolen SIM Cards. But they won't because there is a lucrative grey market for it, and such illegal cellphones are used in the commissioning and furthering of other crimes, from human trafficking to terrorism. Why our government refuses to act against such shameless criminality is truly a stain on our nation.

[oafpatroll]

Cellular providers could end cellphone theft today by agreeing to block and blacklist all stolen SIM Cards. But they won't because there is a lucrative grey market for it, and such illegal cellphones are used in the commissioning and furthering of other crimes, from human trafficking to terrorism. Why our government refuses to act against such shameless criminality is truly a stain on our nation.

It's not just the sims its the handsets too. MTN could make stolen handsets on much of the continent more or less worthless overnight.