New DoT regulations prohibit sale by unregistered individuals, mandates dealer registration

The government has instructed all telecom operators across the country to register anyone involved in issuing SIM cards to customers and has also extended the deadline for compliance to March 31, 2025. This updated directive is aimed at tightening the rules surrounding SIM issuance to combat cyber fraud effectively. Additionally, the government plans to take action against individuals who have more than 9 SIM cards registered in their name.

The new regulations require every telecom company to register their agents, franchisees, and SIM card distributors. This is believed to introduce an added layer of transparency and security in the SIM issuance process in India.

So far, private telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharti Airtel have completed their registrations, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) still has some catching up to do.

To assist BSNL, the government has granted an additional two months for them to register their SIM dealers. Starting April 1, 2025, only registered SIM card distributors will be authorized to provide SIMs to customers.

The government has also introduced multiple layers of security for acquiring SIM cards in India. It's no longer just the customers who need to undergo KYC processes, but the distributors must also be verified.