Sri Lanka Tigo Launches Plastic Ownership Card

July 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Tigo, a unit of Millicom International Cellular is issuing plastic-card ownership certificate in response to anti-terror rules, which can be piggy-backed to give additional benefits to customers, an official said.
The new regulations introduced by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka require mobile customers to give on demand to the law enforcement authorities, proof of ownership, of the mobile phones they use.

Tigo launched a plastic card containing the customer’s name, mobile number, national identity card or passport number as the 'proof of ownership' certificate which can be carried in a wallet.

"It is our responsibility as operators to ensure our customers are not inconvenienced. When regulations are made we have to respond," Tigo chief executive Dumindra Rathnayaka said.

Rathnayaka says the card will also be beneficial to tighten product loyalty.

"It is an opportunity for us to give every customer of ours a card. It is a connection to the customer," Rathnayaka said.

"We can tie this card to many other opportunities around we can give him other offers. There is a whole load of things we can do with this."

The registration process can be completed at any of the 30 Tigo offices islandwide.

"The practicality problem is there. We are now doing in 30 locations but we hope it increase to 500 locations."

The ownership certificate will be issued free of charge, Tigo says.