The 'security package' legislation recently adopted by the Austrian government and raising controversies includes an obligation to register pre-paid Sim cards from 01 January 2019. The obligation will apply to SIM cards already in use and there are approximately 5.5 million pre-paid SIMs in use currently. The massive increase was due to the launch of MVNOs like Hot or Spusu and according to mobile experts' estimates, 3.5 million SIM cards are not registered, as Der Standard reported.
The police and judiciary have been calling for the introduction of mandatory registration of currently anonymous SIM cards for several years now. In 2017, the plan to introduce the registration obligation even caused demonstrations against it in Vienna. The recently adopted draft security package is subject to criticism, especially by the NGO Epicenter Works, claiming that the obligation makes every individual a suspect and interferes with citizens' freedom to communicate. They also refer to the industry association GSMA's White Paper, which says introducing the obligation to register pre-paid SIM cards has not led to an improvement in the fight against crime and terrorism. Some countries have analysed such a measure and have decided against it. By contrast, in Poland, the obligation was introduced in February 2017.
The obligation to register pre-paid Sim cards is also opposed by mobile operators, for whom the new requirement is another burden.
