TRAI Enforces New Porting Rules to Prevent SIM Swap Scam

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has rolled out new guidelines for SIM card replacement, effective July 1, 2024. These regulations, part of the Ninth Amendment to the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Regulations, introduce a mandatory 7-day waiting period for users seeking to switch network providers after replacing a lost, damaged, or stolen SIM card.

The move aims to curb fraudulent SIM swaps and unauthorized network switching. Under the new rules, telecom providers are prohibited from issuing Unique Porting Codes (UPCs) during the initial 7-day period following a SIM replacement.

To enforce this waiting period, telecom service providers will now implement stricter checks before issuing a UPC. These checks include:

• 90-Day Porting Limit: If a mobile number was ported within the past 90 days, a UPC will be denied.
• Pending Porting Request: A UPC cannot be issued if another porting request is already underway for the same number.
• Valid UPC Already Issued: If a valid UPC for the number already exists, a new one won’t be generated.

In case a UPC request is denied due to any of these reasons, the service provider must inform the subscriber via SMS.

These changes were finalised after consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and industry stakeholders. They reflect TRAI’s ongoing efforts to adapt MNP regulations to the evolving telecom landscape and address security concerns.

Users should be aware of these new timelines when planning to switch network providers after replacing their SIM cards. The regulations aim to enhance security in mobile number portability processes while balancing user convenience and fraud prevention.