The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly extended the deadline for implementing SIM-binding by over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Signal, and Arattai to December 31, 2026, following pushback from the industry.
DoT has also rolled back the mandate requiring web and desktop sessions of OTT platforms to automatically log out within six hours and re-authenticate through QR code pairing. Instead, it has adopted a risk-based approach under which sessions must be terminated immediately only in cases of suspected fraud.
Additionally, platform players said enabling SIM-binding, which ties an app on a device to a particular mobile number, across both Android and Apple ecosystems will take time, with technical readiness expected only by October to November 2026.
