New SIM Card Rules: With this step it is expected that cases of SIM fraud will be controlled. This is also likely to reduce the customer acquisition costs of telecom companies.
New SIM Card Rules: Indian mobile users will now be able to get new SIM cards without filling paper forms. According to the recent notification of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the paper-based know-your-customer (KYC) process will be phased out from January 1, 2024. The notification said, ‘In view of the various amendments/changes made from time to time in the existing KYC framework, it has been decided by the competent authority to use the paper-based KYC process as envisaged in the instructions dated 09.08.2012. Will be closed from 01.01.2024.
With this step it is expected that cases of SIM fraud will be controlled. This is also likely to reduce the customer acquisition costs of telecom companies.
The process of paper-based customer verification system involves filling the customer acquisition form, pasting a photograph and attaching identity proof and address proof with the form. In case of SIM replacement, the KYC process has to be completed within 24 hours of incoming and outgoing SMS facilities.
Rules tightened
Earlier, DoT had announced that it would be mandatory for telecom companies to do digital verification of every SIM user. Telecom operators will be responsible for police verification. If the changes are not followed, the dealer may have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
Apart from this, DoT is deactivating the mobile connections of those having more than 9 SIM cards on one identity. A mobile user can have a maximum of nine connections. This is also being done to curb the cases of fraud.
