The Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, today issued a series of orders simplifying the KYC processes and thereby initiating the telecom reforms announced by the Cabinet on 15.09.2021.
The move comes close on the heels of Union Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw laying a roadmap for reforms in the Telecom sector to provide world-class internet and tele-connectivity for the marginalized sector.
Accordingly, the DoT has made following orders for immediate implementation of contactless, customer-centric and secured KYC processes: -
- Aadhaar based e-KYC: This process has been reintroduced for issuing of new mobile connections. Telecom Service Providers will be charged Rs. 11- per customer authentication by the UIDAI. This is a complete paperless and digital process wherein the demographic details along with picture of the customer are received online by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) from the UIDAI.
- Self KYC: In this process, the issuing of mobile connection to lee customers is done dtrough an App/Portal based online process wherein a customer can apply for mobile connection sitting at home/office and gets the SIM delivered at his door step using documents electronically verified by UIDAI or DigiLocker.
- OTP-based conversion of mobile connection from Prepaid to Postpaid and vice-versa: The implementation of OTP based conversion process enables a subscriber to convert his mobile connection from Prepaid to Postpaid a. vice-versa sitting at home/office via OTP based authentication.
Presently, a subscriber has to undergo KYC process which entails visit to the Point of Sale along with the original documents of identity and address as proof for obtaining new mobile connection or conversion of mobile connection from Prepaid to Postpaid or vice-versa.
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Online service delivery has become an acceptable norm in the recent past and most of the customer services are being offered through internet with OTP authentication. Contactless services in the COVID era need to be promoted for subscriber convenience and also for ease of doing business.
Customer consent has been made compulsory in case the Aadhaar is being used and demographic details are being obtained electronically from UIDAI.