Security prime, not mobile growth: DoT

Mobile operators' suggestion to restrict physical verification of subscribers to a sample size has not found favour with the department of telecom, as it feels that growth of cellular users cannot be at the cost of national security.

"There are no instructions regarding sampling for security verification... the views of the government on both pre-paid and post-paid subscriber verification are reflected in the licence conditions," a senior DoT official said on Thursday.

Mobile operators had suggested they should be allowed to verify details of only a sample size of subscribers contending that physical verification of all users would hit cellular subscriber growth rate, which was averaging 400,000 to 500,000 a month, besides being a costly exercise.

As per the conditions of both cellular and unified access service licenses, the licensees are required to ensure adequate verification of each and every customer before enrolling the person as a subscriber.

The service providers are required to obtain photograph and authenticated copies of identification and address proof from all customers before enrolment, the official said, adding that the country could not afford to have impressive mobile subscriber growth at the cost of verification that may put national security in jeopardy.

In fact, all operators barring Tata Teleservices Ltd have opposed the 100 per cent physical verification drive and have proposed a 10 per cent physical verification and 100 per cent document verification.

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