2 weeks ago
DoT Orders Telcos to Block New SIMs Beyond Nine
The Department of Telecommunications has set a limit on how many mobile connections one person can have.
A person with nine or more SIM cards will not be given another new one.
Phone companies must check this before activating new connections.
They will use a government system called the Digital Intelligence Platform.
The system contains information about subscribers who have reached or exceeded the limit.
Representative subscriber images will also be available to help operators identify them.
The new technical and organisational measures must be in place from August 24, 2026.
Until the checks are fully implemented, extra connections may be suspended until the issue is resolved.
The Department of Telecommunications directed operators to deny new SIMs to subscribers who already have nine or more mobile connections.
Telecom service providers must implement technical and organisational measures to enforce the limit from August 24, 2026.
Operators will use the Digital Intelligence Platform to identify subscribers who have reached or exceeded the prescribed limit.
A representative subscriber image for those at the limit will be available on the platform from August 23.
Until implementation is complete, connections activated beyond the limit must be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved.
- Who
- The Department of Telecommunications directed telecom service providers to enforce the limit.
- What
- Operators must deny new mobile connections to subscribers who already have nine or more connections.
- Where
- When
- The circular was dated August 17, 2026; subscriber images are scheduled to be available from August 23, and enforcement measures must begin on August 24, 2026.
- Why
- The directive is intended to enhance security, prevent misuse of mobile connections, and stop subscribers from exceeding the prescribed limit.
Key facts
- Issuing authority
- Department of Telecommunications
- Prescribed threshold
- Subscribers with nine or more mobile connections cannot obtain another new connection.
- Enforcement date
- August 24, 2026
- Identification system
- Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP)
- Subscriber images
- Representative images of subscribers who have reached the prescribed limit will be available on DIP from August 23.
- Process deadline
- Telecom service providers were asked to streamline the process with DIP before November 30.
- Interim action
- Connections activated beyond the prescribed limit must be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved.
Quotes
Department of Telecommunications
Official spokesperson of India's telecommunications regulator
“From August, 24, 2026, onward, TSPs shall take appropriate technical and organisational measures to identify each subscriber who seeks to obtain mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit...and communicate to him that he already has a maximum number of mobile connections permitted to an individual and accordingly, a new mobile connection cannot be provided to him”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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