How many Mobile connections can an individual subscriber acquire in India?
An individual subscriber can acquire maximum 9 mobile connections in total from all the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in India. This restriction is 6 for subscribers in J&K, Assam and North Eastern states.
How to report the mobile connections which are not required or not acquired by a subscriber?
Following steps are to be taken:-
- Visit Sanchar Saathi portal.
- Login into the portal by using the OTP received on the mobile number.
- Go through the mobile connections and check the option ‘This is not my number’ or ‘Not required’ against the mobile connection(s) to be reported.
- Click the ‘Report’ button to submit the request.
What happens to the mobile connections which are reported as ‘This is not my number’ or ‘Not Required’ on the Sanchar Saathi portal by the subscriber?
The mobile connections reported as ‘This is not my number’ or ‘Not Required’ are flagged for re-verification by the service provider.
What is the re-verification process?
Re-verification is the process of confirming the identity of the existing subscriber with the records available with the service provider. This may be done by using any of the digital methods available. The photograph of subscriber and his/her Proof of Identity (PoI) document is compared with the existing records to ascertain the identity of actual user. It is not necessary that the subscriber requires to submit the same PoI document as submitted while obtaining the mobile connection. Any specified PoI document can be submitted. The verification shall be for the identity of the subscriber.
What are the time lines for the re-verification of the mobile SIMs reported on Sanchar Saathi portal?
Timelines for various activities for the mobile SIMs which are flagged for re-verification are as under:-
- Outgoing services shall be suspended within 30 days.
- Incoming services shall be suspended within 45 days.
- Disconnection of mobile connection which failed in re-verification within 60 days.
Note: In case a subscriber is on international roaming or with physical disability or hospitalization, additional 30 days may be provided for above activities.
What are the documents that may be used for the Proof of Address (PoA) and Proof of Identity (PoI) for acquiring a new mobile connection or re-verification?
The list of approved PoA and PoI documents is available at this link.
What happens to the mobile connection which fails in re-verification process?
Such mobile connections are disconnected by the respective service provider.
Whether a mobile connection obtained using an individual subscriber’s PoI/ PoA can be transferred to any other individual subscriber?
Mobile connection is non-transferable. The change in name between the blood relatives/legal heirs is permitted subject to no objection from the existing subscriber and submission of new Customer Acquisition Form (CAF) and following the procedure of registering new subscriber. A new SIM Card is issued in such cases. For this process the service provider can be contacted by the subscriber.
Whether Mobile Number Portability (MNP) can be done on the mobile SIMs which are flagged for re-verification?
No, the MNP shall be initiated after its re-verification is completed.
What happens if an individual subscriber has mobile connections more than the limit prescribed by Department of Telecommunications?
Mobile connection(s) activated chronologically which are more than the prescribed limit will be disconnected by the Service Provider.
What is the action against the subscriber for acquiring mobile connections on forged documents?
In such cases police complaint/FIR shall be lodged against such subscriber.
