The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), on 17, August 2026, has issued instructions for reverification of existing mobile connections identified by the DoT, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) or Law Enforcement Agencies. The existing limit continues to be 9 mobile connections per individual subscriber across all TSPs and Licensed Service Areas (LSAs), with the limit restricted to 6 connections in J&K, Assam and North-East LSAs.
The DoT has directed that the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) will, based on subscriber data uploaded by TSPs, identify and group mobile connections held by an individual across TSPs and service areas. TSPs must take appropriate measures to bring subscribers who already exceed the prescribed limit within the permissible limit. Further, from 23 August 2026, representative subscriber photographs of individuals who have reached the prescribed limit will be made available on DIP, which TSPs must download daily to facilitate identification and prevent issuance of additional connections.
From 24 August 2026, TSPs must implement technical and organisational measures to identify subscribers seeking additional connections using the representative photograph and prevent them from exceeding the prescribed limit. Initially, this may operate on a D+1 post-facto basis, but must be integrated into the real-time enrolment/activation process by 30 November 2026. Until such integration, any connection activated beyond the permissible limit on a particular day must be immediately suspended pending resolution. The respective LSAs will be the competent authorities for issues arising from the implementation of these instructions.
