Google and Apple have removed 2 eSIM apps, Airalo and Holafly from their App stores, as per orders from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to crackdown on cyber fraud.
For a foreign app to sell SIM cards in India, the company needs a no objection certificate (NoC) from DoT. However, the Singapore-based Airalo and Spain-based Holafly offer eSIMs (digital SIM) in India that allows customers to get a connection in minutes and instantly connect to a mobile network at the destination.
In addition to removing the apps from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, DoT has also asked internet service providers, and telecom companies to block the websites of these apps in India, according to an ET report.
Exploiting a loophole with unauthorized eSIMs, fraudsters with international numbers are duping Indians through cybercrime, says the government.
Even though these two apps have been banned, other eSIM apps like Nomad eSIM and aloSIM are still available. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a sharp increase in cybercrime cases in Delhi in 2022. In 2024, these numbers are expected to increase with cybercriminals increasingly leveraging on advanced AI technology.