New Delhi: With cyber fraud cases continuing to pose a challenge in India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced stricter measures to prevent subscribers from obtaining mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit.

Under the existing rules, an individual can have a maximum of nine mobile connections in their name across all telecom service providers and licensed service areas. The limit is six connections in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East Licensed Service Areas.

However, the DoT has now issued fresh instructions to telecom service providers to strengthen the enforcement of this existing limit. According to a circular dated August 17, 2026, telecom operators will have to identify subscribers who already have the maximum permitted number of connections and prevent them from obtaining additional mobile numbers.

The new enforcement measures will come into effect from August 24, 2026. If a subscriber who has already reached the prescribed limit applies for another mobile connection, the telecom service provider will have to inform the customer that the maximum permissible number of connections has already been reached and that a new connection cannot be provided.

How the Digital Intelligence Platform will be used

To implement the new process, the DoT will use its Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP). The platform uses subscriber information uploaded by telecom service providers to identify mobile connections held by the same individual across different operators and service areas.

From August 23, 2026, a representative image of subscribers who have already reached the prescribed limit will be made available on the DIP. Telecom service providers will use this information to help identify such subscribers when they apply for an additional mobile connection.

The DoT has also directed telecom operators to put in place the required technical and organisational measures. Initially, the process may be implemented on a post-facto basis, but operators have been asked to integrate it into their mobile connection enrolment and activation processes.

What happens to connections beyond the limit?

The DoT's instructions state that mobile connections held beyond the prescribed limit are in contravention of the existing guidelines. Subscribers with excess connections are required to disconnect the additional numbers. If the issue is not resolved, subsequent connections may be disconnected to bring the total number within the permitted limit.

Until the required systems are fully integrated, any mobile connection activated beyond the prescribed limit may be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved.

Telecom service providers have been directed to complete the required integration of the new process by November 30, 2026.

The DoT's latest measures are aimed at strengthening identification of subscribers with multiple mobile connections and ensuring compliance with the prescribed limits, which can also help address the misuse of telecom connections for fraudulent and other unlawful activities.