India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) today tightens Mobile Subscriber Verification Norms and issued new mobile connection guidelines which will be effective from Nov 9. With the implementation of new norms , prepaid and postpaid customer will not get pre-activated SIM card and only after physical 'verification of subscriber' mobile connection can be issued or activated.
All SIM cards can be activated after the verification process as per new guidelines and it may take 3 to 7 days to activate the SIM cards. Now Mobile operators need to do telephonic verification of new customer and also physical signing of Customer Acquisition Forms (CAF). Postpaid and Prepaid Mobile connections are to be cleared only after physical verification of all original documents and matching of the applicant and the photograph attached to the application/CAF.
The new norms will be effective from November 9 which is to be scrupulously adhered to for the purpose of supplementing the existing information. New rules emphasis on verification of documentary requirements, updating the subscriber details in the database and before the activation of the SIM card.
If the information furnished in the CAF is found wrong, the SIM card seller /PoS (Point of Sale) or mobile operator's franchise may file a police complaint against the mobile subscriber within 15 days of bringing it to the notice of the telecom operators.
With the new norms, the retailer of mobile SIM cards will also have to sign authenticating the documents submitted by the customer with CAF for having verified with original copies of proof of address and identity. The new guidelines also make it mandatory for the licensee/operator (mobile/telecom service provider) to sign the form prior to activation of the SIM card certifying the information provided on the form is correct.
The new norms of "Verification of Mobile Subscribers" were necessitated as the license condition of cellular and unified mobile operators only says that the licensee must ensure "adequate verification" of each and every customer before enrolling his as a subscriber. With new guidelines, legal action can be taken against the telecom operators if they fail to take any action against the sellers of the SIM cards and the subscribers who submit forged documents.
Earlier DoT had cracked the whip on mobile companies ever since security agencies raised concern over fake addresses and bulk connections in a single person's name.
