Multiple sim cards: "The maximum SIM cards limit has been set for nine cards per person, except in the case of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Northeast Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) where it is limited to six," says Nittin Arora, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat.
SIM card limits: How many are too many, and the penalties for violations
Taking multiple SIM cards under your name can get you in trouble. You may have to pay a huge penalty if you have taken more SIM cards than what is specified by the telecom law. Violating the rule repeatedly can also land you in jail. It is important to know about the latest rules on how many SIM cards you can take and how to check how many SIM cards are registered under your name online. Read on
How many SIM cards can you take under your name?
The maximum number of SIM cards that an individual can take will depend on where he or she is taking the SIM card. Nittin Arora, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat says, "The maximum SIM cards limit has been set for nine cards per person, except in the case of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Northeast Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) where it is limited to six."
The new Telecommunications Act, 2023 gave effect to the existing rules as specified above about the maximum number of SIM cards that can be held by an individual. Explaining it further, Arun Prabhu, Partner (Head - Technology & Telecommunications), Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas says, "The Telecommunications Act, 2023 does not mandate any specific limitation on the number of SIM cards an individual can hold. In effect, it gives effect to existing rules on subscriber verification."
While the new telecom law did not specify a limit about the maximum number of SIM card that a individual can have so the existing rules will apply in this case. "The new Telecommunications Act, 2023 does not specify a limit. Currently the overall limit is 9. For J&K, Assam and North East the limit is 6," says Abhishek Mitra, Counsel, DSK Legal.
What happens if you take more SIM cards than the prescribed number
Arora from Grant Thornton Bharat explains the punishment prescribed by the new Telecommunications Act. "First-time offence for obtaining SIM cards beyond the prescribed limit would be met with a fine up to Rs 50,000, which would go up to Rs 2 lakh for each subsequent offence."
"There is no specific provision for fine or imprisonment for having more SIM cards than the limit (apart from disconnection of excess numbers). However, under the new Telecommunications Act, 2023, obtaining SIM cards through fraud, cheating or personation is punishable with imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to Rs 50 lakh, or both. So, if someone has more than the prescribed limit of SIM cards, it is possible that these may have been obtained illegally," says Mitra from DSK Legal.
"The Telecommunications Act provides for fines (up to 50 lakh) and imprisonment (up to three years) for the offense of obtaining SIMs or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating or personation. This does not necessarily link to the number of cards, but instead, the manner in which cards have been registered," says Prabhu from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
You will be held accountable if more than the prescribed number of SIM cards have been obtained under your name
Even if you directly have not obtained more than nine SIM cards but someone else took them under your name, you will be held accountable for taking more SIM cards than the prescribed number. Hence you must keep track of how many SIM cards have been obtained under your name.
Under the new Telecommunications Act, 2023 obtaining SIM cards through fraud, cheating or personation, is punishable.
If you already have nine or six (in certain specified circles) SIM cards, then it is unlikely that you can opt for more SIM cards under your name. The telecom operators can easily identify how many SIM cards a single individual has subscribed to. "The service providers (licensees) have implemented means to verify these aspects using software and analytics. So, even where some other identification document (other than Aadhaar) has been used, the licensee ought to be able to establish the linkage so that this aspect can be checked. The reporting happens to the Department of Telecommunications, not TRAI," says Mitra from DSK Legal.
However, if somebody is taking SIM cards under your name and using them for fraudulent activities, you must know about it and report it to the authorities. The best way to find out about it is to periodically check how many SIM cards are registered under your name.
How to check the number of SIM cards issued under your name
The government has a dedicated portal called 'Sanchar Saathi' using which you can easily check how many SIM cards have been registered under your name.
"Sanchar Saathi portal will tell you how many mobile numbers are currently registered in your name. This is not linked to Aadhaar per se - so you will not be able to enter your Aadhaar ID and check," says Mitra.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the Sanchar Saathi portal to check how many SIM cards have been taken in your name:
Step 1: Go here- https://tafcop.sancharsaathi.gov.in/telecomUser/
Step 2: Enter your mobile number in the designated column and then type in the captcha. Once done click on 'Validate Captcha'. After the captcha is validated a OTP will come, type in the OTP received in the designated column.
Step 3: A new webpage will open and it will show how many connections you have in your name. On this page, you have three options- 'Not My Number', 'Not Required', and 'Required'.
As per the Sanchar Saathi portal, you need to click on the 'Not My Number' option to raise a request for disconnection of selected mobile connection(s) that are active in your name and without your knowledge.
As per the portal, you have to click on the 'Not Required' option to raise a request for disconnection of selected mobile connection(s) that are active in your name and not required anymore.
As per the Sanchar Saathi portal, the 'Required' option is clicked to inform you that the selected mobile connection(s) are active in your name and no action is required.
What about those who already had more than the prescribed number of SIM cards?
For those individuals who already have more than nine SIM cards or six SIM cards in specified areas, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued certain instructions on December 7, 2021, for re-verification of existing mobile connections. Individual subscribers having more than nine mobile connections will be flagged for re-verification. If your mobile number has been flagged for re-verification, then you have three options: surrender/ transfer/ disconnection.
So, in all probability, if you have held more than the prescribed number of SIM cards before this notification came into effect, no penalty would be levied.
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