Mobile user verification compliance rises to over 85%: Govt

Government today said subscriber verification compliance has increased to 85 per cent from the earlier 60 per cent, amid rising security concerns.     

"Mobile subscriber verification audit conducted by the Vigilance Monitoring Cells in the field has resulted in enhanced compliance to subscriber verification by the Service Providers, from 60 per cent to more than 85 per cent", Department of Telecom said in a note.     

DoT had cracked the whip on mobile companies ever since security agencies raised concern over fake addresses and bulk connections in a single person's name.     

Security agencies had raised an alarm earlier over the rise in number of cases of fake addresses and unidentified SIM card buyers, which helped the terrorists to escape after carrying their modus operandi over mobile phones.     

Although it is mandatory to carry out subscriber verification, operators fearing loss of customers did not stress on this aspect and as a result security agencies for whom mobile call details are crucial to nab culprits were not able to track the offenders.     

As a result DoT tightened the subscriber verification norms, as per which telecom operators will have to pay a penalty and immediately de-activate the pre-paid mobile connection if they fail to follow the new norms issued by the government to strengthen the subscriber verification system.