Russia to Offer SIM‑Card Activation via Biometric Verification
Megafon will pilot facial recognition and fingerprint scanning terminals in Moscow and St. Petersburg outlets this summer, with a nationwide rollout to follow, promising to halve or even third the time needed for new SIM‑card activation
Streamlining Subscriber Onboarding
In partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, the Biometric Technology Center (BTC) and Finnish‑Russian vendor Ovision, Megafon is equipping its retail stores with the Unified Biometric System (UBS). Customers can now verify their identity by scanning a fingerprint or undergoing a facial‑recognition check instead of presenting physical documents. “We expect to reduce verification times by two to three times,” says Megafon spokesperson Irina Petrovna, underscoring the operational efficiencies this brings to both consumers and store staff.
Multiple Verification Channels
Subscribers may still sign up via the Gosuslugi portal—Russia’s unified government services website—or through the Legal Entity personal account on the same platform, if registering on behalf of a company. In‑store personnel will assist with either option, ensuring a seamless experience. However, Gosuslugi verification is only an interim solution: once all Megafon stores are fully integrated into UBS, customers will complete the entire process on‑site, eliminating any need to visit external portals.
Benefits for Consumers and the Industry
By cutting new‑SIM activation from an average 15 minutes to under 5, the biometric terminals promise to reduce queues, enhance data accuracy and lower fraud risk. For Russia’s telecom sector—where millions of SIM‑card registrations occur monthly—this level of automation can translate into significant labor savings and improved compliance with national security regulations. As Megafon completes its rollout, competitors are expected to follow suit, marking a major step toward digitalizing customer onboarding across the Russian mobile market.
