Many users of the mobile payment application Juice are feeling the pressure of Regulation 23 of the Information and Communication Technologies (Registration of SIM) as the April 30 deadline for re-registration of SIM cards approaches.
This regulation came into effect on October 1, 2023, following the recommendations of the report from the commission of inquiry into drug trafficking.
Users are faced with a difficult choice. Either re-register their SIM card, including a photo, with the potential risks and concerns that all calls, messages, and conversations could be recorded.
Or refuse to comply with this directive, knowing that their cards will be automatically deactivated, leading to limitations in accessing certain banking services via their mobile devices.
In the banking sector, there is close monitoring of the situation as there are hundreds of thousands of users who rely on this mode of smartphone payment.
“Mobile payment represents an important segment of their operations,” notes a financial expert speaking anonymously.
The message from the MCB encouraging users of the Juice application to re-register their SIM cards through their smartphones in order to continue using the service has sparked strong reactions.
Some are perceiving it as a means of pressure to comply with the authorities, despite there still being over a million subscribers who have not taken action, believing that there may be a stay of execution due to the complaint filed by lawyer Pazhany Rangasamy.
The MCB’s communication department declined to respond to inquiries regarding the impact of the decision of the ICTA on the Juice application, stating that the person responsible was not available to answer questions within the short time frame provided.
With almost 400,000 users of the Juice application, the MCB remains one of the leaders in the mobile payment sector.
However, the question that arises now is: if a subscriber’s SIM card is deactivated, could they still use mobile payment services such as Juice, my.t money, maubank withme, or other applications offered by banks and institutions?
The answer is both yes and no, according to a banking industry expert. “If a bank sends an OTP (one-time password) through an SMS for user authentication during a bank transaction, the user must have a phone with an activated SIM card.
Otherwise, they will not be able to access mobile payment services.” However, some banks have alternative options such as sending the OTP via email after a transaction, as explained by Jennifer Johnson, Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations at Absa Bank.
Bank One also offers the option of using Internet Banking through Wi-Fi if a client cannot access Mobile Banking on their phone.
“We strongly encourage our clients to ensure that their personal data such as name, address, email, or phone number are kept up to date in order to fully benefit from the services offered through our digital channels,” says Eric Hautefeuille, Chief Operating Officer of Bank One.
Ultimately, the final choice between transactions on mobile with an activated SIM card and a code via SMS or Internet Banking rests with the clients.
Source: l’Express
