The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has disconnected more than 85 million mobile connections to combat fraud and improve security in the telecom sector. The disconnections include 78.33 lakh mobile connections obtained using fake documents, and another 6.78 lakh connections related to cybercrime activities, after analysis based on an AI-based tool developed by the DoT.
In a bid to further strengthen the Know Your Customer (KYC) framework for issuing mobile connections, the DoT has introduced new guidelines for telecom service providers. The regulations now mandate the registration of all point of sale (PoS), including franchisees, distributors and agents, who register customers and issue SIM cards on behalf of telecom licensees. These measures are intended to ensure that customer registration is more secure and transparent.
As per the new guidelines, telecom companies are required to carry out unquestionable verification of every PoS. This includes biometric verification, physical address verification of the PoS's place of business and local residence, as well as police verification in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North Eastern License Service Areas (LSAs). Furthermore, PoS are now required to sign inter-service agreements defining their duties, scope of their activities and sanctions for non-compliance, including the termination of agreements in case of violations.
The new regulations also state that PoS found to be involved in fraudulent activities or providing false information will be blacklisted by all telecom providers. In such cases, all mobile subscribers enrolled in the blacklisted PoS will be re-verified. In addition, if a PoS continues to enroll customers without registration after January 31, 2025, they will be fined. ₹10 lakh per copy.
To further streamline KYC procedures, the DoT has amended the existing guidelines. These changes include the discontinuation of the bulk connection framework and the introduction of an enterprise connection framework, which mandates individual KYC verification for each end user before activation. A more rigorous process has also been introduced for requests to swap or replace subscriber identity modules (SIMs). From January 1, 2024, paper KYC processes have been abolished.
The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, shared these developments today in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
