KYC now mandatory for bulk business calls via mobile numbers

New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has warned access service providers against providing internet telephony services for bulk business communication using mobile numbers without conducting end-user KYC (know your customer).

The department has said it has come to its notice that some licence holders are providing internet telephony services under the business connection category using mobile numbering series without conducting KYC.

"These licensees are claiming that the existing KYC instructions are applicable only to those licensees who are providing cellular mobile services," the DoT said in a memo dated June 16.


In August 2023, DoT had made KYC mandatory for every SIM, even in case of business connections. But the industry was facing issues with this provision as, in certain instances, the bulk connections do not have identifiable end users, so the KYC can't be done.