If your shop sells or activates SIM lines, this news affects you directly. On 10 August 2026 Egypt's telecom regulator (NTRA) said it had received complaints from users who found mobile lines registered with their personal data, without their knowledge and without the line being in their possession. It said it approved a package of urgent regulatory measures to tighten line registration, verify the real holders' identity, and prevent it happening again. (report on Emarat Al Youm)
What is known and what is not
Confirmed by the source we have:
- Complaints were about lines registered on people's data without their knowledge.
- The NTRA announced urgent measures to tighten registration and verify holders' identity.
- The headline says Egypt referred all mobile operators to the prosecutor.
What we could not confirm as of October 2026, and you should ask about:
- Whether sales outlets and agents face new checks (fingerprint, face capture, extra verification).
- Whether there is a cap on lines per national ID.
- Whether there are penalties for agents or outlets.
- Whether the referral of operators to the prosecutor changes anything for you as a retailer.
We won't invent rules. What follows is good practice that protects your shop either way, not legal text. Official instructions will come from your operator or distributor.
Why the shop is the weak point
Every line registered on someone else's ID passes through a counter. If the ID holder complains, the first question is who activated the line and where. So you need two things: verify before activation, and leave a clear trail afterwards.
A counter routine you can start today
Before activation
- Original ID only. Not a photo on a phone, not an image sent on WhatsApp by a "relative".
- The ID holder must be standing in front of you. Compare the photo to the face. No activating a line because "he'll bring the ID tomorrow".
- Check the ID is valid and readable, not worn out or altered.
- Never use a "spare" ID from an old customer to complete a number or hit a sales target. It is the fastest route to trouble.
- Every employee knows the rule, not just the owner. If one employee breaks it, the whole shop carries it.
After activation
Log every line in a notebook or file:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Proves when the line was activated |
| Line number and network | Lets you find the transaction fast |
| Customer name | Shows who received it |
| Last 4 digits of the national ID | Links the line to its owner without copying the full ID |
| Employee who activated it | Shows who is responsible |
| Type (new line / SIM replacement) | Replacements are as sensitive as new lines |
This is our suggestion, not an official requirement. If your operator asks for records in a specific format, follow that.
Handling ID photos
Many shops photograph IDs on a personal phone and leave them in the gallery. That is a double risk: if the phone is stolen or the photos get forwarded, people's data leaks and you answer for it. If you must keep a copy because the operator requires it, store it in one locked place and delete it from the gallery and WhatsApp.
Customers can check for themselves: Arqami
The NTRA's My NTRA app now has a service called "Arqami" (أرقامي) that shows a person the lines registered to their national ID. According to Dostor, the steps are:
- Download My NTRA.
- Create an account.
- Go to "Individuals".
- Choose "My services".
- Tap "Arqami".
We could not confirm the exact launch date, but the service is clearly live. When a customer activates a line with you, tell them: "When we finish, open Arqami and see the lines on your name." It reassures them and shows your shop is clean. You can write the steps on a small card by the counter.
If a customer says a line isn't theirs
- Stay calm and don't argue. Take the number and the network.
- Ask them to check Arqami and file a complaint with the operator or the NTRA.
- If the line came from your shop, check your log and send the details you have to your distributor or the operator.
- Never delete or edit old records. It shows, and it hurts you.
We haven't confirmed the official complaint procedure in detail, so ask the operator.
Questions to put to your operator or distributor
Send them in writing (WhatsApp or email) and keep the reply:
- Have identity verification steps changed for sales and activation?
- Is any new device or app required in the shop?
- Is there a cap on lines per person?
- What is the outlet's liability if a line is registered with wrong data?
- What paperwork must I keep, and for how long?
What to do next
Today: agree the rule with your staff, "original ID + the holder in front of you". Start the activation log and delete old ID photos from phones. This week: send the questions to your distributor and keep the answers. When official instructions arrive, adjust your routine to match.