MTN Zambia CEO Charles Molapisi confirmed that the operator has disconnected approximately 750, 000 customers for failing to register their SIM cards, as required by the regulator, the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA).

Molapisi said no one can make a call on the MTN network with an unregistered SIM in compliance with the law.

According to Molapisi there are currently 5.4 million customers on MTN network and the company has embarked on an incentive scheme, involving free smartphones and airtime, to entice customers to remain on the network, and those who have been disconnected to return.

"We are committed to the process and we want to make sure we get the process as right as possible. If you buy a sim card now, you will not be able to make a call until the sim card is registered. So we have passed a stage where we have everyone we need," he said.

Molapisi said the company is using multiple channels to register customers including over 6, 000 retail points located in various parts of the country.

The CEO also used the opportunity to refute claims the company lost customer data and said all data is kept intact and secure, as part of the ongoing validation of registered customers.

ZICTA said it will instruct all mobile phone operators to disconnect subscribers whose details do not reflect by October.

Director of Support Services at ZICTA Mofya Chisala said the authority wants mobile phone companies to rectify the anomalies on customer details before the October deadline.