New Delhi: The Central government is clamping down on the enforcement of rules around the number of mobile connections an individual can have in his name.
From August 24, telecom operators will have to stop issuing new SIM cards to those who already have reached the permitted limit of nine.
In a circular dated August 17, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed telecom service providers to introduce technical and organisational measures to identify customers trying to obtain a mobile connection beyond the limit of nine.
The telecom operators have to strictly refuse such customers by informing them that they already have reached the maximum number of connections allowed in their name.
It was more than a decade ago that DoT set the mobile connection ceiling at nine per person. In Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and other north-eastern states, there is a separate ceiling of six connections.
Now onwards, the government wants to make sure these limits are strictly followed and there is no misuse. Telecom companies will have to check a subscriber’s existing connections before issuing a fresh SIM.
Also, customers have to mention the mobile numbers already registered under their name at the time of taking a new connection, including connections from other operators or in other telecom service areas.
Telecom operators will have to cross-check customer records through the government’s Digital Intelligence Platform, which has subscriber details provided by different telecom companies.
Further, DoT is introducing a photo-based identification feature on the platform. The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) will show an image for subscribers who have already reached the SIM limit.
Telecom companies will have to integrate and streamline their processes with the DIP by November 30.
If, by mistake, any mobile connection is activated beyond the permitted limit, it will be immediately suspended for a day until the issue is resolved.
