New Mobile Sim: Till now you had to go through the KYC process to convert a new mobile connection or prepaid to postpaid. Had to go to the shop. But now it will not be needed.
New Mobile Sim at Home Online Apply: One order from the government and it’s just amazing! Mobile sim will be available sitting at home. Apply Online. Verify online. The sim will reach you. Even if the prepaid connection (Prepaid Mobile Sim) is to be converted into a postpaid service, it will be possible through an OTP. The convenience of the customers will be taken care of.
In fact, in order to bring reforms in the telecom sector, the Union Cabinet met on 15 September and took many big decisions. On Tuesday, the Department of Telecommunications has issued an order in this regard. This move of the Department of Telecom is part of the reforms in the Telecom Sector.
No need to go to the shop
Customers will no longer need to visit the shop for a new mobile connection. They can apply ‘online’ and get the SIM at their home by verifying themselves through Aadhaar or any valid document kept in Digi Locker.
“Telecom service providers shall follow the procedure for issuing new mobile connections using Aadhaar linked e-KYC,” the DoT said.
Online verification will be done in just 1 rupee
According to the new rules, customers will have to pay one rupee for Aadhaar linked e-KYC verification by UIDAI i.e. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to get a new mobile connection i.e. SIM sitting at home.
The government has amended the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 in July 2019 itself to restart the Aadhaar-linked e-KYC process for issuing new mobile connections.
Understand the whole process here
Customers opting for the self-verification process for seeking a new mobile phone connection will have to register with an app or website using the mobile number of a family member, relative or person known to them. The phone number will be verified with the help of an OTP.
According to the order, “The mobile connection will be issued to the customers through an app/portal-based online process. Under this, customers can apply for a mobile connection sitting at home and get a SIM at their home using documents verified electronically through UIDAI (Aadhaar) or DigiLocker.
Prepaid to Postpaid through OTP
The government has issued an order allowing OTP ie ‘One-Time Password’ (OTP) based process to convert prepaid to postpaid and postpaid to prepaid. Currently, the customer has to go through the KYC process to get a new mobile connection or to change the mobile connection from prepaid to postpaid or postpaid to prepaid.
In this, one has to go to the shop of the company affiliated to the concerned telecom service provider along with the original documents of proof of identity and address. The order states that the use of Aadhaar and other details electronically from UIDAI requires the consent of the customer.
Only one application can be made in a day
The e-KYC process linked to Aadhaar will be an alternative arrangement in addition to the existing system for issuing a new mobile connection. The new system is for all local, second city residents and wholesale customers. The process of ‘online application’ will be limited to one mobile connection per day.
Being a sensitive area, the provision of changing prepaid to postpaid and postpaid to prepaid mobile connections using OTP method only in J&K service area will not be applicable.
