The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday announced new rules to stop people from using more mobile connections or sim cards. As per new rules, telecom companies such as Airtel, Jio and others will use photo-based verification via the government’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) to identify people who have already reached the maximum number of mobile connections allowed in their name.
The news agency ANI shared the DoT circular on X. According to the circular dated August 17, 2026, an individual can have a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom operators and service areas in India.
However, the limit is lower in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-Eastern states, where a person can have a maximum of six mobile connections.
The nine-connection limit is not a new rule. The regulator had already set this limit under its earlier instructions.
The latest circular mainly explains how telecom operators will identify people who have reached or crossed the limit and prevent them from getting additional SIM cards.
Under the new guidelines, the DIP will use subscriber information provided by telecom companies to identify and group mobile connections registered in the name of the same person across different operators and service areas.
This will help operators find subscribers who already have the maximum permitted number of connections.
From August 23, telecom operators will be able to access a representative photograph of subscribers who have already reached the permitted limit through the DIP.
Operators have been instructed to download these images every day.
From August 24, telecom companies will have to use these photographs and other technical measures to identify a person trying to get another mobile connection after reaching the limit.
The customer will then be informed that they already have the maximum number of connections allowed and cannot get another SIM card.
Initially, operators may carry out this verification after a new connection is activated. However, the DoT has asked telecom companies to integrate the system into their SIM registration and activation process so that checks can happen in real time.
This system must be fully integrated by November 30, 2026.
The regulator has also said that until the new system is fully implemented, any mobile connection activated beyond the permitted limit may be immediately suspended.
