DoT has announced a new SIM card rule for mobile users in India. Customers with 9 mobile connections in their name will not get a 10th mobile number. Telecom companies must identify such customers and refuse to issue new SIMs. The directive is part of DoT’s long-running crackdown on fake connections.
New SIM Rule Takes Effect From August 24
The new rule will be implemented from 24 August 2026. DoT has asked telecom operators to set up the required systems from this date. Telecom firms have been told to make all necessary arrangements for the change. Operators must identify customers who try to take new connections beyond the fixed limit. If a person already has 9 mobile connections, the system will check their details. Customers who have crossed the limit will be stopped from getting another SIM. Once the limit is complete, no new connection will be issued.
Subscriber Photos to Be Shared via DIP From August 23
The new system will not depend only on mobile number information. From 23 August 2026, subscriber photos will be shared with telecom operators. The photos will be available through the Digital Intelligence Platform, or DIP. They will cover customers who have reached the 9-connection limit. Operators will download the photos daily to identify people seeking new connections. This will strengthen identification using subscriber images instead of just names or numbers.
Why DoT Is Tightening SIM Rules
A mobile SIM is no longer used only for calls and internet. It is also used for OTP, banking, UPI, social media accounts and many digital services. Wrong use of numbers issued on a person’s identity can create security problems. DoT has long been strengthening action against fake or wrongly taken mobile connections. The new rule ensures connections beyond the limit cannot be issued easily. It will help curb SIMs taken on fake identity and their misuse. The change aims to protect users from fraud linked to fake SIMs.
