The Indian government is tightening norms around the number of mobile connections an individual can hold in India. Telecom operators must stop issuing new connections to subscribers who have already reached the permitted number starting August 24. They must inform these customers that they have already reached the maximum number of connections allowed in their name. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will use its Digital Intelligence Platform to help operators identify such customers.
DoT had set the ceiling at nine connections per person.
PTI reported that according to a circular dated August 17, telecom operators have been asked to established appropriate technical and organizational measures from August 24 onwards to identify each subscriber seeking to obtain a connection beyond the prescribed limit and deny them a new SIM card, reported PTI.
"From August 24, 2026, onward, TSPs (telecom service providers) shall take appropriate technical and organizational measures to identify each subscriber who seeks to obtain mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit and communicate to him that he already has the maximum number of mobile connections permitted to an individual and accordingly, a new mobile connection cannot be provided to him," the circular said.
The DoT has also put in place a mechanism to help telecom operators identify such subscribers. From August 23, a representative image of the photo of each subscriber who has already reached the prescribed limit for mobile connections in their name will be made available on the DIP.
