New Delhi, September 22, 2021: COAI, today applauds the instructions announced by the Department
of Telecommunications (DoT) for the KYC process and transition of existing plans in line with the
telecom reforms. These instructions will provide hassle-free solutions to the end consumers and
create widespread benefits for the telecom service providers (TSPs). This announcement will further
pave the way for a digitized world.
In alignment with the telecom industry’s long-standing requirements, the structural reforms
announced by the Union Cabinet last week were a favorable step in the right direction. They will
relieve the financial stress the sector has been facing by boosting investments, encouraging healthy
competition, and offering choice to customers.
The orders on KYC processes are a landmark beginning for the implementation of the telecom reforms.
Service providers can now issue new connections to both local and outstation customers by the virtue
of Self-KYC and e-KYC processes. This means that customers can now apply for a new mobile
connection from the comforts of their homes/offices and SIM will be delivered to them at their
doorstep. For the process of authentication via Aadhar based e-KYC services, the cabinet has also
approved the proposal for charging only Rs 1/- to the consumers. Additionally, the conversion from
pre-paid to post-paid connections and vice-versa is now a very consumer-friendly and a welcome step.
“We welcome the Department of Telecommunications’ announcement on simplifying KYC process
basis the telecom reforms announced by the Cabinet last week. The relief package and Department
of Telecommunications’ orders will streamline the KYC process, make it more convenient and time-effective for the end consumers. This will boost the telecom sector which is the backbone of the Indian
economy. It will help telecom service providers in meeting their liquidity requirements and invest in
the telecom infrastructure for the onset of 5G technology and in turn, benefit the end consumers. We
are looking forward to more such announcements corroborating the relief package & soon we will
adhere to the processes.” said Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director-General, COAI.
The implementation of telecom reforms will usher in a new era for the Indian telecommunications
industry, which has been a catalyst in the growth of the Indian economy over the past many decades.
The industry stood united and played a critical role in ensuring that India’s telecom infrastructure
remained robust and provided the much-needed connectivity during the pandemic.
The relief package and DoT’s instructions will bring the desired change that the telecommunications
the industry has been seeking for a long time. These announcements will further lead to a much more
robust and healthier telecom sector which in turn will spur innovation and investments in allied
industries like network equipment, smartphones, data centers, etc. and contribute to India’s
AtmaNirbhar vision.
