​​​​​​​New Delhi, August 20:The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom service providers to strictly enforce the existing limit of nine mobile connections per individual subscriber, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

Under the new directions, effective August 24, 2026, telecom operators must take technical and organisational measures to identify subscribers seeking a mobile connection beyond the permitted limit. Such customers must be informed that they already hold the maximum number of connections allowed and that no additional connection can be issued.

The directions also require subscribers to declare in the Customer Application Form (CAF) the mobile connections already registered in their name across telecom operators and licensed service areas. The respective Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) will be responsible for addressing issues arising from implementation of the instructions.

The DoT said details of subscribers who have already exceeded the prescribed limit are available on its Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which consolidates subscriber information submitted by telecom companies.

To further assist operators, a representative image of the photograph of each subscriber who has reached the maximum permitted number of connections will be made available on the DIP from August 23. Telecom operators can use the information to identify customers who have already reached the nine-SIM limit.

The circular further states that until a telecom service provider implements the required measures, any mobile connection activated beyond the prescribed limit on a post-facto basis must be immediately suspended. The connection will remain suspended until the issue is resolved in accordance with the CAF terms and conditions.

Under instructions issued by the DoT on August 9, 2012, an individual is permitted to hold a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom operators and licensed service areas in India.

However, the limit is lower in certain regions. Subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East are permitted to have a maximum of six mobile connections.

The latest directions are aimed at ensuring stricter compliance with these existing limits across the telecom sector.