Gov't Issues New Guidelines for Deactivation and Recycling of Inactive Mobile Numbers

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued new guidelines governing the deactivation and recycling of mobile numbers that remain inactive for an extended period.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, the CA said the deactivation and recycling process will only be triggered after a number has remained inactive for three months without any revenue-generating activity.

"Number deactivation and recycling shall be triggered when a number records no revenue-generating activity, such as making/receiving a call, sending/receiving an SMS, using data, topping up airtime or using the number for value added service, for a period of three (3) months," the statement read.

According to the CA, once the three-month period of inactivity is detected, service providers will be required to make efforts to reach the affected subscriber using the contact information provided during the registration and Know Your Customer (KYC) process.

"Upon detection of inactivity for the stated period, the service provider shall make efforts to notify the owner of the affected number using the contact details collected during the number registration know your customer (KYC) process," the statement added.

The authority said notification may be done through SMS sent to the affected number as well as other contact details associated with the subscriber during the KYC process. 

The notification efforts will continue for another three months unless the subscriber resumes a revenue-generating activity.

As the additional notification period approaches its end, the CA said service providers will be required to publicly identify numbers that are at risk of deactivation and recycling.

"Thirty (30) days before the lapse of the three (3) months in clause 4.4, and with the number still inactive, the service provider shall publish the list of numbers susceptible to deactivation and recycling if they are not activated within 30 days from the date of publication," the statement further read.

The CA further directed providers to publish a general notice of their intention to deactivate and recycle inactive numbers through their websites, other media platforms and a national daily newspaper on a quarterly basis.

"The generic notice of intention to deactivate and recycle inactive numbers shall be posted on the provider’s website, publicized in other media, and published in the daily newspaper with nationwide circulation on a quarterly basis," the statement noted.

According to the CA, the public notices will also provide subscribers with a way to establish the status of their numbers, including whether a number is suspended, active, under recycling or already deactivated. 

The CA said the *106# option will be included for this purpose.

Where a subscriber fails to reactivate the number within the stipulated notice period, the service provider will be required to separate the previous owner's information and services from the number before it is assigned to another subscriber.

"Upon the lapse of the notice period and with the number still inactive, the service provider shall de-link and securely archive the personal data, cached data, and services associated with the previous owner such that they are not accessible to or inherited by any new subscriber, while retaining records required by law," the statement explained.

The CA also said service providers will submit lists of all deactivated and recycled numbers to a centralised system every quarter. 

The system will enable third parties to update their records before making calls or sending SMS messages relating to obligations associated with the numbers.

After the required data protection and de-linking procedures have been completed, the numbers will then enter the recycling process and become available for assignment to new subscribers.

"Upon execution of clause 4.9, the service provider shall initiate the number recycling process and avail the number for provisioning to a new subscriber," the statement read.

Service providers will also be required to keep evidence of the steps taken to contact subscribers whose numbers are due for deactivation, with the records being retained for a period prescribed under Kenya's data protection framework.

This comes months after the CA announced new regulatory requirements governing the importation and wholesale distribution of communications equipment in the country.

In a notice on Tuesday, July 21, the authority said the new requirements affect current and prospective licensees, industry stakeholders and members of the public involved in the importation and distribution of communications equipment.

The CA said entities seeking to import and distribute communications equipment on a wholesale basis must obtain the newly introduced Communications Equipment Distributor (CED) licence.

It directed existing licensees operating under Telecommunications Equipment Contractor (TEC) or Vendor Licences to obtain the new CED licence if they intend to continue importing or distributing communications equipment.

"Existing licensees with Telecommunications Equipment Contractor (TEC) or Vendor Licences who want to continue importing or distributing communications equipment are also required to apply, with immediate effect, for a Communications Equipment Distributor (CED) Licence," the notice added.

The CA said detailed information on the various licence categories, including their scope, terms, fees and eligibility requirements, is available on its official website.

It added that application forms, guidelines and fee schedules have also been provided to guide applicants through the licensing process.