Telecom operators will sign deals with the Election Commission today to get access to the national identification database to introduce biometric registration system for new SIM cards.

“The deadline for introducing the biometric registration system with fingerprints is December 16,” said Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone.

After the deadline, no SIM cards will be sold without the biometric process to be followed, he said. “We hope we will be able to complete installing the necessary devices for the process before the deadline.”

The telecom operators will now have to re-register 13.14 crore active SIM cards, which will start on December 16.

The telecom division wants to complete the re-registration and verification by March 31 next year.

Operators will be charged Tk 2 for every single access to the national database for verification.

The telecom companies are investing around Tk 500 crore for the introduction of the biometric system.