The Department of Telecommunications has suspended more than 8.5 million mobile connections as part of its efforts to fight fraud, including 7.83 million linked to fake documents. New regulations require verification at Points of Sale, with fines for non-compliance and blacklisting for fraudulent actions.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has disconnected over 8.5 million mobile connections as part of efforts to combat fraud and enhance security within the telecom industry. This includes 7.83 million connections obtained through fake documents and 6.78 million linked to cybercrime, identified using an AI-based tool developed by the DoT.
To further strengthen the Know Your Customer (KYC) framework, the DoT has introduced new regulations for telecom service providers. These guidelines require the registration of all Points of Sale (PoS), including franchisees, distributors, and agents who issue SIM cards. The aim is to make customer enrollment more secure and transparent.
Telecom companies must now verify each PoS, including biometric checks, address verification, and police background checks in certain regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the North Eastern License Service Areas. PoS will also have to sign agreements outlining their responsibilities and penalties for non-compliance, including the possibility of termination for violations.
Under the new rules, PoS involved in fraud or providing false information will be blacklisted across all telecom providers, with affected mobile subscribers subject to re-verification. Any PoS continuing to enroll customers without proper registration after January 31, 2025, will face fines of ₹10 lakh per violation.
Additionally, the DoT has updated KYC procedures, discontinuing bulk connections and introducing a business connections framework that requires individual KYC verification for each user. SIM swaps and replacement requests will also follow more stringent processes, with paper-based KYC abolished from January 1, 2024.
These updates were shared by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
