Fact Check: Will Customers Be Charged For Multiple SIM Cards?

New Delhi: There were reports in the media that customers may soon have to pay for using mobile and landline numbers.

The speculation was triggered by a consultation paper that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came up with last week on revision of the national numbering plan.

Reports claimed that the regulator may impose charges on mobile operators, which may be passed on to customers holding multiple SIMs.

However, TRAI dismissed such reports on Friday and clarified that customers will not be charged for holding multiple SIM cards.

“The speculation that TRAI intends to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs/ numbering resources is unequivocally false. Such claims are unfounded and serve only to mislead the public,” the country’s telecom regulator stated.

The Department of Telecom, sole custodian of telecommunication identifier resources, had approached TRAI seeking recommendations on a revised national numbering plan to ensure “efficient management and judicious utilisation of numbering resources in the country.”

Hence TRAI prepared the consultation paper with the aim of assessing all factors currently affecting allocation and utilisation of telecommunication identifier resources.

TRAI invited comments from all stakeholders on its proposals by July 18.