Telecoms enforce tough real-name registration

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country's industry watchdog, is releasing its strictest real-name registration rules for mobile phone users.

The measures aim to have 95 percent of all mobile phone users in China registered with a real name by the end of this year, and 100 percent before July 30, 2017, according to a notification issued by the ministry.

It also requires telecommunication companies to notify users who haven't registered with a real name, or whose registration information is incomplete, to finish the process or have their numbers suspended or deactivated.

Officials said the measures will help fight terrorism and safeguard national security and social stability.

The nation's three telecom carriers, China Mobile Communications, China United Network Communications Group and China Telecommunications Corp, said that they are carrying out real-name registration and will firmly implement the system. Real-name registration was put into effect in 2013.

Forty million people have redone their registration since last year, and 92 percent of phone users across the country are covered, an official from the ministry was quoted as saying by the People's Posts and Telecommunications News.

There are still 100 million who haven't completed the process. The ministry said that by the end of April, more than 140,000 numbers that relate to telecom fraud have been shut down.

"The real-name registration for mobile users will control telecom crimes to a certain degree," said Fu Liang, a telecom expert. "But it can't stop mobile internet fraud and cross-territory telecom crimes."

Moreover, mobile payment applications Alipay and WeChat wallet are gearing up to encourage users to do real name registration as required by July 1.

Alipay, the dominant online payment system in China, said the registration process will make the payment system safer and more convenient.

Contact the writers at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn