New Mobile Number Porting Rule: SIM Replacement Within 7 Days Blocks Porting
TRAI has introduced new guidelines to regulate mobile number portability (MNP) in India, with the objective of combating SIM swap fraud. According to the latest amendment, individuals who have recently replaced their SIM card will face a temporary restriction on porting their mobile numbers to a different telecom operator. This restriction will be in place for seven days following the SIM replacement. These regulations, which mark the ninth amendment to MNP rules, are set to take effect from July 1, 2024.
In a move to fortify the security of mobile number porting processes, TRAI unveiled the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2024. These regulations prohibit customers from initiating mobile number porting if they have undergone a SIM card swap or replacement within the preceding seven days. TRAI has underlined the importance of these measures in thwarting fraudulent practices associated with SIM swap or replacement attempts, as outlined in a circular issued by the regulatory authority.
The new guidelines also include an additional criterion for rejecting requests for Unique Porting Codes (UPCs), which are pivotal for facilitating mobile number transfers between telecom operators. TRAI has specified that UPCs should not be issued if the request is made within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement. These measures underscore TRAI’s commitment to enhancing the integrity and security of mobile number porting procedures, ensuring a more robust framework for telecom services in India.
The telecom regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) announced changes to its mobile number portability (MNP) rules last week. As per the latest amendment, if a SIM card has been swapped or replaced, the associated mobile number cannot be ported out to a different telecom operator for seven days. This is the ninth new amendment since the inception of MNP regulations. The new regulations aim to prevent and reduce SIM swap fraud in the country. The new rules will be applicable from July 1.
The Indian telecom regulator released the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2024 last week. As per the new regulations, customers are not allowed to port their mobile number to a different telecom operator if they have swapped or replaced their SIM card in the last seven days. These regulations are aimed at curbing the practice of porting mobile numbers by way of fraudulent SIM swap or replacement by unscrupulous elements, said TRAI in a circular.
It has also introduced an additional criterion for rejection of the request for allocation of a Unique Porting Code (UPC) that is essential for transferring a mobile number from one telecom operator to another. TRAI states that the UPC should not be allocated if the request for UPC has been made before the expiry of seven days from the date of the SIM swap or replacement of the mobile number.
Users can switch their service provider without having to change their mobile number through the MNP facility. They can initiate the porting process by sending an SMS in the format PORT< ten-digit mobile number> to 1900. This will create a UPC and the user will get it through SMS. It can be used to place an MNP request.