Today, July 1, 2024, marks the implementation of updated rules by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Mobile phone users must now wait seven days after replacing a lost or faulty SIM card before switching service providers, as per TRAI’s March 2024 announcement.
Definition of SIM Swap and MNP
TRAI defines SIM swap or replacement as the process where an existing subscriber obtains a new SIM card to replace a lost or non-working one. MNP allows users to retain their mobile numbers when switching from one service provider to another within the country.
Details of the Amendment
The Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009, have been amended nine times to improve the MNP process. The latest amendment introduces a new criterion affecting the allocation of the Unique Porting Code (UPC).
Specifically, requests for UPC made within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement will now be rejected, compared to the previous ten-day period.
TRAI’s decision reflects a balance of stakeholder feedback. While some supported a ten-day waiting period post SIM swap, others advocated for shorter durations (e.g., two to four days), citing subscriber inconvenience during urgent porting needs.
TRAI emphasized that these amendments are crucial in combating fraudulent practices associated with mobile number porting, particularly through unauthorized SIM swap or replacement activities.