The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed major over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Signal, Arattai and others to implement mandatory SIM binding. This will keep the app tied to the phone number active on that specific device. The directive aims to address the growing cases of digital fraud and digital arrests.
The DoT has asked these OTT platforms to put SIM binding in place within 90 days, failing which the companies will face penalties.
Additionally, the DoT stated that web or desktop versions of these apps must automatically log users out every six hours and require reauthentication through QR-code pairing. The mandate comes after nearly a year of discussions between DoT officials and OTT players on curbing online scams.
The directions were issued under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, notified on October 22 as part of the new Telecommunications Act. The government noted that the decision was driven by incidents where apps were operated without the SIM present on the device, enabling misuse from outside India for cyber fraud. Multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, are collaborating with regulators to find coordinated solutions to rising cybercrime.
Apart from SIM binding, the DoT will establish a mobile number verification (MNV) platform to ensure that a mobile number genuinely belongs to the user and is not being misused.
