No extension to OTT SIM binding deadline: Govt cites security concerns, says messaging apps must comply with March 1 date

New Delhi: Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Wednesday ruled out giving any extension for the mandate on SIM binding for over-the-top (OTT) messaging apps, emphasising it's being done on grounds of national security.

From March 1 onwards, OTT apps have to mandatorily bind accounts to SIM cards, which means apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, etc will only function when the registered SIM card is physically present and active in the device.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on November 28 had issued a directive under the Telecommunications Cyber Security rules to all OTT communications apps to comply with SIM binding within 90 days.


Internet companies and associations such as The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and the Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing companies such as Meta, Google, and Telegram, termed the new rules technically unworkable and a case of legal overreach. They also highlighted that many tablets and laptops lack SIM slots, making the continuous binding mandate technically difficult to implement, aside from user experience issues.

However, Scindia said the mandate is being driven by national security concerns over fraud prevention and precedes any user experience concerns, adding that public consultation had in fact taken place before mandating the SIM binding rules.

"As of now, there is no thought on giving an extension...There are some national security issues, and some which have revenue implications," Scindia told reporters. "On national security issues, there can be no compromise. On revenue implication issues, I am very clear in terms of the ambit, mandate, and where our responsibility lies."

Telcos have been pushing the government to regulate OTT apps on the same spam and fraud prevention framework as internet-based apps are one of the primary vectors of fraudulent calls and messages. However, the Telecom Act doesn't explicitly include OTT services as part of the core definition of telecom.

Scindia also clarified that the mandate to log out companion devices every six hours to prevent unauthorised remote access only applies to virtual connections. "It is not for direct connections on your phone. That is really for multiple connections on the same instrument like on your computer," the minister said.

He said the ministry is keen on starting satellite-based communication services in the country, but it depends on the government fixing the price of spectrum that will be assigned, and satcom companies complying with security rules based on the experimental spectrum given to them.