DoT to deactivate extra SIM of subscribers beyond 9 connections

The order comes from DoT to check incidence of financial crimes, pesky calls, automated calls and fraudulent activities

To prevent misuse of SIM cards for financial crimes, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked telecom operators to re-verify the SIM of subscribers holding beyond nine connections across India, and six connections in the case of Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and Assam, and to disconnect them if they are unverified.

As per the order issued by the DoT, the subscribers will be given the option to choose the connections they want to retain and deactivate the rest.

The government took the decision to prevent incidents of financial crimes, pesky calls, automated calls and fraudulent activities.

As per the order, the outgoing (including data services) facilities of the "flagged mobile connection shall be suspended within 30 days" and "the incoming service shall be suspended within 45 days" in case the subscriber has turned up for verification and exercises his option to surrender, transfer to disconnect mobile connections.

If no subscriber turns up for re-verification, the flagged number will be deactivated within 60 days to be counted from December 7.

If a subscriber is on international roaming or with physical disability or hospitalisation, additional 30 days will be provided, the order said.

However, if the number has been flagged by any law enforcement agencies or financial institution or identified as a pesky caller then the outgoing facilities will be suspended within 5 days, incoming within 10 days and complete disconnection within 15 days in case no one turns up for verification, the order said.

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