New SIM-card rules from August 24: How they affect you?
What's the story
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced a major change in SIM card rules, effective from August 24. The guidelines will limit the number of mobile connections an individual can hold across telecom operators and licensed service areas in India. Under the current DoT regulations, an individual is allowed a maximum of nine mobile connections in their name. However, this limit is lower in certain regions like Jammu and Kashmir and Assam where customers can have up to six connections.
Identification process
Telecom companies to inform customers they have reached SIM limit
From August 24, telecom companies will have to implement measures to identify customers who have exceeded the maximum number of mobile connections allowed.
The DoT has instructed operators to inform such customers that they cannot get a new connection as they have already reached the permitted limit.
The new system will use subscriber photos to help telecom companies identify people who have already reached their SIM limit.
Tech integration
DoT to provide representative images of subscribers
The DoT will make representative images of subscribers who have reached their SIM limit available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) from August 23. Telecom operators will have to download these images daily and use them to identify customers trying to get additional mobile connections.
Implementation strategy
Telecom companies transitioning to real-time checks by November 30
Initially, the new system will work on a post-facto basis. This means telecom operators can verify after a new connection has been enrolled.
If a connection is activated beyond the permitted limit during a day, it will have to be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved.
The government has also asked telecom companies to move toward real-time checks by November 30 for better enforcement of these rules.