DoT revises subscriber verification norms

In a move to curb the sale of pre-paid SIM cards without proper verification, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has decided to levy a minimum penalty of Rs 1,000 per subscriber on defaulting telcos.

The deadline imposed on operators to ensure that all existing subscribers are brought under the re-verification net is March 31, 2007. The DoT has also banned sale of pre-activated SIM cards.

The new norms were issued on November 22, following a DoT meeting on September 27. The department has decided that the guidelines will be "scrupulously adhered to" for the purpose of supplementing the existing information.

The licensor has made the person authorised at the point of sale (PoS) responsible for the verification of documents submitted by a customer. This means that an operator's salesperson will be responsible for carrying out the verification process.

According to rules, a customer is required to submit his proof of identity and address while purchasing a SIM card.