MTN is the largest network provider in Africa and the ninth in the world. Despite having its origin in South Africa, Nigeria is the largest source of its revenue. The telecommunication giant currently has over 31 million users in South Africa. With top competitors like Telkom, Vodacom, and Cell-C, the network provider is not relenting to ensure that all customers enjoy optimum service.
SIM card registration on MTN in South Africa seems to be the only part of their customer service that needs some extra level of digitalization. But that does not mean SIM card registration and activation for MTN is so difficult. If it were, MTN would probably not be the biggest network provider in Africa. Before buying a new MTN SIM card, it is important to know how to activate and RICA your SIM. The process is unique to the network provider, so it would be wrong to assume that the process is the same as other networks that you may be using or have used.
If you would love to know what it takes to register and RICA your MTN SIM card, and also why MTN RICA registration seems more difficult than that of other networks, you are on the right article; keep reading.
How Do I Buy And Activate An MTN SIM Card?
There are various reasons you may need a new SIM card, considering MTN is totally a great choice. However, SIM and RICA registration for Vodacom seems easier. With the number of MTN users, you can tell that there’s something about the network provider to benefit from.
MTN SIM cards are bought and registered in any MTN outlet. For now, MTN SIM card registrations cannot be done online. What this means is that you may have to face the challenge of waiting in a queue to get your SIM card registered in an MTN outlet. But that may not be a challenge, as MTN offers excellent customer service, so everything that can be done to keep you comfortable while waiting will be put in place.
However, it would help if you tried to save yourself the stress of coming back to an outlet a second time. This can be avoided by knowing all the necessary documents you need to carry to the registration process and bringing them along.
What Documents Do I Need To Register My MTN SIM Card?
Here is a detailed list of all the documents the MTN service agent in charge of your registration will ask of you:
- ID card or passport.
- Proof of residence, like utility bills.
Note: Those who live in an informal area and do not have any proof of residence can use the address of the nearest religious or academic institution.
How Do I Activate My MTN SIM?
Even after your SIM card registration, MTN users will also have to activate their SIM cards manually. There is no technicality required in the activation process, so it’s something you can easily do yourself. To activate your newly bought and registered MTN SIM card, follow the steps below:
- Insert the SIM card into a cell phone.
- Switch on the phone.
- Dial *141# using the MTN SIM.
- You will receive confirmatory SMS.
- Recreate a billable event such as recharging your phone or buying a data bundle.
The new SIM card must be used within 30 days after registration, else it will be deactivated, and the number will be assigned to another user.
You Must RICA Your MTN SIM Card Before It Can Be Activated
Following the law, you must RICA your SIM card, irrespective of the network you use. No SIM card can be activated or used without RICA. RICA stands for Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act. It is a measure the government has put in place to cub SIM card-related crimes.
Through RICA, every SIM card in South Africa is registered with a unique personal ID, address, and user information. This way, whenever a crime is perpetuated with that SIM card, the user can easily be identified.
While Vodacom has made it easier for new users to RICA their SIM by programming their websites to perform RICA registration, you cannot RICA MTN SIM cards online.
How To RICA Your New MTN SIM Card
While registering your SIM card at any MTN outlet, you can also RICA your SIM card alongside. All you need to do is take the following documents with you:
- Means of Identification
- Proof of residence
According to MTN Corporate Affairs executive Jacqui O’Sullivan, the telecommunications company will also incorporate RICA registration online like Vodacom, but that has not happened as of this writing. Although MTN RICA and SIM registration cannot be done online, MTN has made it possible for users to locate an MTN outlet close to them. To do that, follow the procedure below:
- Visit the MTN SIM Card Registration/RICA page.
- Scroll down the page to the button of the page.
- Â Tap on Find A Store.
- A page will be displayed on your screen with a provision for you to enter an address.
- A map displaying MTN outlets near you will be shown on your screen.
- Use two fingers to navigate through the app to find one close to you.
How To Check Your RICA Status
MTN users can track and verify their RICA registration status on the MTN website. This saves you the stress of calling a customer care agent. But it can only be done with a smartphone because it requires an internet connection. To checks your RICA status, here is what you need to do:
- Visit the MTN RICA page.
- Scroll down the page.
- Tap on RICA and input your username and password.
- Your current status will be displayed.
Please note that MTN RICA registration is totally free of charge, and it may take up to 24 hours for your SIM to get activated after you RICA it.
Now you know how to activate and RICA your MTN SIM card, avoid scams by following the right procedure. While using your SIM card, whenever you don’t understand anything, visit the MTN website, call customer care or visit an outlet.
