Govt eases rules for getting mobile sim card at your doorstep
On September 15, the Cabinet had approved major telecom reform including the service of online sim cards.
The department of telecommunications (DoT) has issued a notification that states that customers can apply for a new sim card online. The sim card will be delivered to the customer’s doorstep. To apply for the simcard online document verification of Aadhaar or any other eligible document stored in Digilocker is required. On September 15, the Cabinet had approved major telecom reform including the service of online sim cards. According to the new rules, for getting new mobile connections one has to do authentication through Aadhaar-based e-KYC services of UIDAI, for which Rs 1 is to be paid.
For new mobile connections Aadhaar based e-KYC process has been again introduced. The UIDAI will charge Rs 1 per customer authentication to telecom Service Providers. The application process is totally digital and paperless. The details like demography, customer’s picture, etc are received online by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) from the UIDAI. A subscriber can convert his mobile connection from Prepaid to Postpaid and vice-versa, through OTP based authentication process.
In July 2019, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, was amended to re-start the Aadhaar-based e-KYC process for new mobile connections.
A subscriber has to undergo the KYC process to get a new mobile connection or conversion of mobile connection from prepaid to postpaid or vice-versa, at present. He/she has to visit the retail shop along with the original documents of identity and address proof.