Government gets tough on SIM cards; numbers to be suspended if the limit of 9 connections is exceeded..

In a circular dated August 17, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom companies to utilize user photographs available on the government's 'Digital Intelligence Platform' (DIP) to curb the acquisition of connections exceeding the prescribed limit of nine SIM cards.

Under this new system, starting August 23, photographs of subscribers who have already reached the set limit will be made available to telecom companies via the DIP platform. Companies will be required to download these photographs daily and verify whether any user is attempting to obtain a SIM card beyond the permitted limit.

From August 24, telecom operators must take necessary technical and organizational measures to identify such customers and inform them that they have exhausted their limit and, consequently, cannot be issued a new SIM card. The DoT has instructed operators to initially implement this process on a 'post-facto, D+1' basis before integrating it in real-time into their subscriber enrollment and activation systems by November 30.

The circular states that if a new connection exceeding the limit is activated during this transition period, the operator must immediately suspend it until the matter is resolved.

This move comes as the government seeks to strictly enforce existing regulations that restrict an individual to a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom companies and service areas combined. In Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the North-Eastern states, this limit is capped at six connections.

The DoT explained that its 'Digital Intelligence Platform' identifies the total number of active SIM cards held by a single individual across various operators and service circles, based on user records uploaded by telecom companies. Companies must ensure that any connections exceeding the limit are brought within the prescribed threshold. Under the old rules, customers holding SIM cards in excess of the prescribed limit were required to voluntarily surrender the extra connections; failure to do so resulted in the disconnection of the numbers acquired later.

The use of users' photographs adds a new layer to this verification system, aiming to curb instances where individuals exceeded the set limit by obtaining SIM cards from different companies or states.

The DoT has clarified that the respective Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) will be the authorities responsible for resolving any issues that arise during the implementation of these new guidelines.

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