In an endeavour to promote Safe Telecom Utilisation and a cleaner, safer Digital Ecosystem, the government has unleashed two significant reforms intended for mobile user protection. These include the Know Your Customer (KYC) Reforms and Point of Sale (POS) registration reform, which are seamlessly aligned with the recent measures introduced through the citizen-centric portal Sanchar Saathi. This revolutionary platform has fortified India’s warfare against cybercrimes and financial frauds.
A Close Look at the KYC Reforms
The introduction of KYC reforms by the government is a key step towards securing telecom service subscribers from potential scams and boosting public trust in the digital environment. The comprehensive KYC process now includes scanning of the QR code of printed Aadhaar, thus preventing its misuse. A noteworthy stipulation is that disconnected mobile numbers shall not be reassigned to new consumers for 90 days post disconnection, averting immediate reuse.
Moreover, complete KYC is mandatory when subscribers seek SIM card replacement. Adding another layer of security to the Aadhaar E-KYC, facial-based biometric authentication is now permissible alongside thumbprints and iris-based authentication. Entities such as companies, societies, and trusts can acquire mobile connections after completing KYC for all end-users, with activation taking place following successful KYC and physical verification of the entity’s premises.
Point of Sale (POS) Registration Reforms Explained
The POS registration reform aims to maintain the integrity of the distribution network through mandatory registration of Franchisees, Agents, and Distributors (PoS). Robust verification procedures and written agreements are to be established between PoS and Licensees. Any PoS found involved in illicit activities will face termination and a three-year blacklist period.
The Innovative Sanchar Saathi Portal
Developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Sanchar Saathi portal has been a game-changer in the Indian telecom industry since its launch on World Telecommunication Day (17th May 2023). The portal’s mission is to eradicate fraudulent practices prevalent in the telecom sector, such as identity theft, forged KYC, and banking fraud, providing a secure and reliable telecommunication experience.
Reforms Introduced by Sanchar Saathi Portal
The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) implemented via the portal enables users to block stolen or lost mobile phones. Users can submit their IMEI numbers along with a copy of the police complaint to verify and block stolen devices. Furthermore, the Know Your Mobile Connections feature allows users to check the mobile connections registered under their names, notifying them about any unauthorized or fraudulent connections.
The Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR) has been designed to identify subscribers who obtain connections using forged or fake documents. This feature leverages facial recognition and data analytics techniques, analysing connections obtained through paper-based KYC documents.
The Impact
The Sanchar Saathi portal has successfully identified over 40 lakh fraudulent connections, of which over 36 lakh have been disconnected. In addition to providing a secure and trustworthy telecommunication experience for users, it has played a significant role in combating identity theft, falsified KYC, mobile device theft, and banking fraud.
Through these comprehensive reforms and implementation of advanced technological tools such as the Sanchar Saathi portal and ASTR, efforts against fraudulent activities in the telecom sector have been tremendously scaled up, aligning perfectly with the government’s mission to provide a secure and reliable communication environment.
