New Sim Card Rule: TRAI to implement new regulations to curb fraudulent SIM swap from today

Amendments to Mobile Number Portability (MNP) regulations, aimed at curbing SIM swap and replacement fraud, will come into effect from July 1, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The TRAI announced on March 14, 2024, that the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2024, will be enforced starting July 1, 2024.

TRAI defines SIM swap or replacement as the process by which an existing subscriber acquires a new SIM card to replace a lost or non-working one. The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) facility allows users to retain their mobile numbers when switching from one access provider to another within the country.

To continually improve the MNP process, the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009 have been amended eight times previously. The latest amendment introduces an additional criterion for rejecting requests for the Unique Porting Code (UPC). The UPC will not be allocated if the request is made within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement, reduced from the previous ten-day period.

The telecom regulator explained that while some stakeholders supported the ten-day waiting period following a SIM swap or replacement, others argued for a shorter period, such as two to four days, citing subscriber inconvenience in urgent porting cases.

TRAI stated that these amendments aim to prevent fraudulent SIM swap/replacement activities by unscrupulous individuals.