Beijing mobile phone users without real-name registration to be suspended

[File photo: jsnol.com]

From October 15, 2016, all mobile phone users who have not registered their real identity in Beijing will have their telecom service suspended, according to the Beijing Morning Post.

China's three major telecom operators, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have been urging users to register their real identity for months now through text messages, letters, public notices and phone calls, the report said.

It added that there are still around 800 thousand China Unicom users and around one million China Mobile users who have not provided their real identity. The telecom operators are urging their users to complete the registration as early as possible so they do not face long queues before the deadline.

Citizens can now register their real identity through the telecom operators' official websites and apps, as well as going to their offices. If a person does not register in time and has their service suspended, to restart the service the mobile phone user will have to go to a branch of the company in person.

Chinese authorities released regulations in September 2013 ordering all mobile phone users to provide their real identity before getting a phone number. Police authorities say the move will help them stop the spread of misinformation and avoid telecom fraud.