The Indian government has announced an extension for compliance with SIM-binding regulations, now set for December 31. This decision follows feedback from industry stakeholders.
An official statement to news agency PTI confirmed the extension, stating, "The government has extended the deadline for applicability of SIM-binding rule to December 31 following representation from the industry players."
Originally introduced by the telecom department (DoT) in December 2025, these rules require messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal to maintain a continuous link to users' SIM cards. Additionally, users accessing web or desktop versions of these apps were previously required to log out every six hours.
However, the DoT has now removed the mandatory six-hour logout requirement for web versions. Instead, logout will be determined by risk analysis conducted by the messaging platforms.
This decision follows earlier reports indicating that the Centre was contemplating adjustments to the SIM-binding rules in response to concerns raised by industry players.
The directive is part of the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, which broadened the telecom regulator's authority to include messaging and social platforms that verify users via mobile numbers.
Under the regulations, platforms must ensure that users can only access services on devices associated with the SIM card used for registration. The initial deadline for technical changes was set for February 26, with compliance reports due by March 28.
In its communication to digital intermediaries, the DoT expressed concerns about cybersecurity risks linked to non-SIM-bound devices, which could be exploited for telecom-related cyber fraud from outside the country.
Despite these regulations, digital intermediaries have voiced strong opposition, arguing that strict enforcement may hinder legitimate usage, especially for users traveling abroad or accessing messaging services on multiple devices. The Broadband India Forum has suggested that these rules may exceed the DoT's statutory powers and proposed alternatives like enhanced SIM-KYC enforcement and improved collaboration among telecom operators, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies.
