• New rules require a seven-day waiting period for SIM replacements before porting.
• Unique Porting Code (UPC) issuance restricted within seven days of SIM swap.
• Telecom companies must verify several conditions before issuing a UPC.
• Aimed at reducing fraudulent SIM replacements and unauthorized network switching.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has brought out fresh guidelines concerning SIM card replacement and network porting with effect from July 1, 2024.

Connected with the Ninth Amendment of the MNP Regulations, these regulations are meant to stop fraudulent SIM replacements and unauthorized switching of telecom providers.

Key Changes in Porting Rules

Under the new directives, subscribers are supposed to wait for a compulsory seven days after changing a lost, damaged, or stolen SIM card before being allowed to change to another network provider.

The seven-day waiting period will avoid instant porting following a SIM swap, which is the exact trick cybercriminals always employ in their actions.

Under TRAI, SIM swap is defined as “Acquisition of a new SIM card in place of a lost or non-working SIM card by the existing subscriber.”

While users can still obtain a new SIM card in case of loss, theft, or damage, the new rules add an extra layer of security to the process.

Unique Porting Code (UPC) Issuance

The rules also include new stipulations on the issuance of UPCs.

They are codes crucial in networking, especially in changing network providers. 

In that regard, any telecoms company has been prohibited from issuing a UPC to the user within the first seven days subsequent to SIM replacement or swap.

Before issuing a UPC, mobile service providers must check for the following conditions:

1. This mobile number has previously been ported, and the date of last porting is more than 90 days ago.
2. The request from the same mobile number is already under process for porting.
3. The mobile phone number already has a UPC issued that has not expired.

If any of these conditions are met, the network provider must refuse to generate a UPC and inform the subscriber of the reason via SMS.

Background and Implementation

These new rules are the result of a suggestion by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and subsequent stakeholder meetings and analysis. 

The Mobile Number Portability regulations, first introduced in 2009, have now been amended nine times to address evolving challenges in the telecom sector.

FAQs

Q1: What is the new waiting period for SIM card replacements under TRAI’s guidelines?

A1: Users must wait seven days after replacing a SIM card before they can switch to a different network provider.

Q2: What is a Unique Porting Code (UPC) and why is it important?

A2: A UPC is required for switching network providers. TRAI’s new rules restrict issuing UPCs within seven days of a SIM replacement.

Q3: What conditions must be checked before issuing a UPC?

A3: Telecom companies must verify if the number has been ported in the last 90 days, if another porting request is in process, or if a UPC has already been issued and not expired.

Q4: Why has TRAI introduced these new guidelines?

A4: The guidelines aim to curb fraudulent SIM replacements and unauthorized network switching by adding security layers to the process.

Q5: When were these new regulations implemented?

A5: The new guidelines came into effect on July 1,2024 , as part of the Ninth Amendment of the Mobile Number Portability Regulations.

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