Government Directs Telcos To Enforce 9-SIM Limit

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom companies to strictly enforce the rule of not issuing new mobile connections to subscribers who already have nine SIMs. This rule will come into effect from August 24, 2026.

The DoT has instructed telecom service providers (TSPs) to take technical and organizational measures to identify subscribers who seek to obtain mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit.

Customers will be required to provide a declaration in the Customer Application Form (CAF) regarding the mobile connections they already hold in their name across telecom operators and licensed service areas.

The DoT has also put in place a mechanism to help telecom operators identify subscribers who have already reached the upper limit of 9 SIM cards. The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) will provide details of such subscribers, including a representative image of their photo.

The DIP uses subscriber information submitted by various telecom companies to identify subscribers who have already reached the upper limit.

Any mobile connection activated beyond the prescribed limit will be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved.

The existing instructions, issued on August 9, 2012, state that an individual customer can have a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom service providers and licensed service areas in the country. However, the limit is lower in certain regions, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and the North-East, where subscribers can have a maximum of six mobile connections.

The government wants to strictly enforce this upper limit to prevent misuse of mobile connections.

The respective Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) will be the competent authorities to decide issues arising from the implementation of the instructions.

The DoT's move is aimed at ensuring that telecom companies comply with the existing rules and regulations regarding mobile connections.

The new rule will help prevent the misuse of mobile connections and ensure that subscribers do not exceed the prescribed limit.

The enforcement of the 9-SIM limit is expected to have a significant impact on the telecom industry, as it will help prevent fraud and misuse of mobile connections.

In summary, the DoT has directed telecom companies to enforce the 9-SIM limit, and customers who already have nine SIMs will not be issued new mobile connections.

This move is expected to improve the overall security and efficiency of the telecom industry in India.

The government's decision to enforce the 9-SIM limit is a significant step towards preventing the misuse of mobile connections and ensuring that subscribers comply with the existing rules and regulations.