MFC to Offer MegaFon SIM Cards for Purchase
In a groundbreaking move, telecom giant Megafon is rolling out a new project to make buying SIM cards a breeze for customers nationwide. This ambitious plan involves setting up shop in multifunctional centers (MFCs) across the country, starting with the Leningrad region. By the end of June, over 40 regional MFC centers will be part of this revolutionary initiative.
The project, forged through an agreement with the MFC of the Leningrad region, is already in motion, with the "Vsevolozhsky" business office serving as the pilot location where Megafon SIM cards are now available in an MFC. By the end of the month, this project will expand to all centers of this MFC.
This collaborative effort promises significant advantages, particularly for specific client categories, such as foreign citizens. Given the prevailing law "On Communications", contracts for mobile services with foreign citizens or stateless persons have new rules since January 1, 2022.
Under these updated guidelines, a foreign citizen must provide a notarized translation of their identity document, secure a personal insurance account number (SNILS), register on the State Services portal, and confirm it. Subsequently, they are required to register in the Unified Biometric System.
Obtaining a SNILS can be a laborious process, requiring a visit to the MFC or the Social Security Fund (SSF), and biometric data collection, often necessitating a visit to a bank. These procedures can take up to two weeks. The mobile operator, in turn, won't start providing services until they have checked the subscriber's data on the State Services portal and in the Unified Biometric System (UBS).
Megafon's partnership with MFCs aims to drastically cut down the time clients spend obtaining a SNILS, registering, and confirming their account on the State Services portal, and activating a SIM card—all tasks that can now be accomplished in one place.
As this project gathers momentum, Megafon looks forward to expanding its cooperation with MFCs to other regions of the Russian Federation. Igor Glebov, the director of the development department, explains, "Our main priority is to create the best customer experiences, and this partnership with MFCs will significantly streamline the sign-up process for our foreign clients, who often have limited time due to short-term stays. This partnership will substantially simplify the registration process, reduce the waiting time, and enhance the overall experience for our foreign clients."
- This partnership between Megafon and MFCs in the Leningrad region is introducing a more convenient way for foreign clients to purchase SIM cards, as it allows them to complete several registration tasks, including obtaining a SNILS and verifying their account on the State Services portal, all in one location.
- In an effort to streamline the registration process for foreign clients, Megafon's new project, involving MFCs, will not only reduce waiting times but also enhance the overall experience for these clients, who often have limited time due to short-term stays, by bringing together necessary services within a single location.
