TRAI Announces Amendments to SIM Porting Regulations to Combat SIM Swap Fraud in India

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced changes to its regulations pertaining to SIM porting, commonly known as Mobile Number Portability (MNP), in an effort to combat the rising instances of SIM swap fraud across India. These changes will take effect from July 1, 2024, and include the introduction of a mandatory waiting period of seven days following a SIM swap or replacement before users can initiate the process of porting their mobile number from one network to another. This delay is intended to mitigate the risk of fraudulent SIM swaps and safeguard users from unauthorized porting of their mobile numbers. Despite this, users seeking to upgrade their SIM cards from 3G to 4G/5G networks will encounter no restrictions or delays in porting. TRAI's revised regulations concerning SIM porting aim to bolster security measures and mitigate the risks associated with fraudulent SIM swaps, thereby fostering a safer mobile ecosystem for users nationwide.