India’s telecom regulator, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), orders telcos to deny new SIMs to subscribers who already have nine mobile connections, with separate limits applied in specific regions. The rule is tied to verification steps DoT directs service providers to use to prevent users from obtaining additional SIMs beyond the allowed number.
According to the reports, the DoT’s enforcement includes photo-based verification and checks designed to ensure the subscriber’s number of active connections is accurately counted. The limit is reported as six connections in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and the North-East, while the general limit is nine. DoT also sets timelines for implementation, with new verification checks expected to start on August 23–24 and with systems to support real-time integration expected to be in place by late November.
Business Line frames the move as stricter enforcement of an existing cap, focusing on the practical impact for customers who attempt to get additional SIMs. NDTV emphasizes the operational details of how verification and integration will work, including the regional variation in connection limits and the phased rollout.
