The Media and Communications Branch of Luxembourg's Department of State has confirmed that 12 July will be the deadline for purchasing anonymous SIM cards in the Grand Duchy.

Since the beginning of 2016, all mobile operators in Luxembourg have been demanding that customers identify themselves before the activation of prepaid SIM cards in the context of the fight against crime, and in particular against terrorism.

A number of anonymous SIM cards already distributed before then however still remain in circulation. A new law of 7 June 2017 amends the law of 27 February 2011 on electronic communications networks and services which now makes it compulsory to deactivate prepaid cards with a Luxembourg number whose holders have not yet been identified by their operator. The obligation becomes applicable one month after the entry into force of the law, ie 13 July 2017.

Users of Luxembourg-based SIM cards who have not yet done so must therefore identify themselves with their operator by 12 July 2017 at the latest if they wish to avoid the deactivation of their card and thus the interruption Of the service. The practical arrangements for identification may vary from one operator to another, but in all cases operators are obliged to collect the elements necessary for identification, including a copy of an identity document.