ID required to buy mobile numbers: China

BEIJING, CHINA: China recently announced that it has made it mandatory for cell phone users to provide identification before purchasing a new connection, in its latest campaign aimed at curbing the scourge of spam, pornographic messages and fraud on mobiles.

As per media reports, mobile phone customers all over China will now have to present ID while purchasing a new number.

While locals have to produce their identification, foreigners will have to register with their passports or other ID proof in order to subscribe to mobile phone connections, China Daily said.

State-run Telecom operators including China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom said they would follow the new rule.

The new rule may affect thousands of small-time business people in China, who made a living selling the mobile telephone cards.