Beginning on June 26, the New Telecom Act will allow individuals to have up to nine SIM cards

June 26 marks the implementation date of the new Telecommunications Act 2023 provisions, which include limitations on the quantity of SIM cards an individual may use simultaneously. A person may only have a maximum of nine SIM cards registered in his/her name, as per the Central government's announcement in this regard. For citizens of Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern states, the number is limited to six.

Violation of the rule may cost someone from Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh. While the fine would be Rs 50,000 for a first-time breach of the law, the amount would increase to Rs 2 lakh for every repeat violation.

In case of obtaining a SIM card by deceiving someone and using their identification documents, the penalty could be an imprisonment of three years, a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh, or both.

Additionally, if commercial messages are sent without the user's consent, the telecom company will face a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh and may also be banned from providing services.

Other new rules

Meanwhile, the punishment for fraudulently obtaining a SIM card using someone else’s identity documents would be a jail term of three years, a fine of Rs 50 lakh or both.

Another new provision states that telecom companies/networks can be slapped with a fine of Rs 2 lakh or even banned from their services for sending commercial messages to a customer without prior consent.

At the same time, the government can allow telecom companies to install cell towers or lay telecom cables in private properties, despite objections from the landowner, if government officials are convinced that such work cannot be avoided.

Yet another rule gives the government the power to instruct telecom companies to intercept and block messages and calls when national security is threatened or during an emergency. However, messages sent for news purposes by journalists with state and central accreditation cannot be placed under surveillance. Even then, the messages and calls of accredited media workers could be monitored and blocked if their news reports pose a threat to national security.

Punishment

The new rules suggest the following penalties for various violations:

Snooping messages and calls and offering parallel telecom services: three years imprisonment, a fine of Rs 2 crore or both.

Possession of illegal wireless equipment: Fine from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh.

Possession of unauthorized devices that can block telecom services: three years’ imprisonment, a fine of Rs 50 lakh or both.

Violation of laws relating to national security: Imprisonment for three years, a fine of Rs 2 crore or both. The services/networks may also be banned.

For causing damage to telecom services: Fine up to Rs 50 lakh.