Airtel And Jio SIM Home Delivery Hits Roadblock As DoT Flags Security Risk: All Details

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has raised red flags over national security after telecom giants Airtel and Reliance Jio announced plans to offer home delivery of SIM cards. The key concern revolves around customers completing self-KYC (Know Your Customer) verification at home. DoT has now reminded operators that Aadhaar-based KYC must be completed before SIM delivery, halting both companies’ new initiatives for now.

Airtel recently teamed up with Blinkit to deliver SIM cards to customer homes within 10 minutes, charging a Rs 49 convenience fee. However, the initiative allowed users to complete self-KYC verification post-delivery, which the DoT sees as a national security risk.

Soon after Airtel’s launch, Reliance Jio also informed the DoT on April 16 that it planned to roll out a similar express SIM delivery service starting April 25. But the telecom department objected to the idea of active SIM cards being delivered without pre-verified Aadhaar-based authentication.

According to a report in The Economic Times, the DoT has issued a strong advisory to all telecom operators, not just Airtel and Jio. The department emphasised that Aadhaar-based KYC authentication must be completed before a SIM card is delivered to a customer’s doorstep. The move is aimed at ensuring proper identity verification to prevent misuse and enhance national security.

The report states that Airtel has been asked to follow existing regulations and ensure that KYC is done in full before SIM cards are handed over.

Following the directive, both Airtel and Reliance Jio have paused their home delivery services. Airtel is now reviewing its processes to meet regulatory guidelines before resuming the offering. “Airtel will comply with DoT regulations but will definitely restore the home delivery service for the convenience of its customers,” said a person familiar with the matter.

Meanwhile, Jio’s plans for express delivery have also been put on hold until it aligns with DoT norms.

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