Notified by the Department of Telecommunications to amend the 2024 Rules.
Key Highlights of the Rules
- Telecommunication Identifier User Entities (TIUEs): It is a new category to be created covering any business that uses phone numbers to identify customers or deliver services — except licensed telecom operators.
- It brings platforms like Zomato, PhonePe, Paytm, Uber and messaging services under the same regulatory framework that governs Airtel and Jio.
- Mobile Number Verification (MNV) system: To be established by the Central Government to verify whether phone numbers provided by users correspond to legitimate telecom subscribers.
- Regulating use and sale of telecom equipment: Directs manufacturers to not assign International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers already in use and maintain a database for tampered or restricted IMEIs.
Need for the Amendment
- Cater to Rising Cybersecurity Incidents: From 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024, reflecting the growing scale and complexity of digital threats.
- Effective Verification: Enable Financial institutions and insurance firms to verify details of customers while opening new accounts.
- Addressing Emerging Threats: E.g., Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is being targeted by fraudsters using compromised mobile numbers.
Other Measures to Ensure Telecom Cyber Security
- Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI): Launched by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it classifies suspicious numbers as Medium, High, or Very High-risk.
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Act places strict obligations on data fiduciaries to ensure security safeguards.
- More than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.6 lakhs IMEIs linked to fraudulent activities have been blocked (October, 2025).
