Indian mobile users with Aadhaar cards can now skip complex paperwork required to acquire SIM after new guidelines were issued under the government’s electronic-Know Your Customer (e-KYC) initiative on Tuesday.
In a statement released by Department of Telecommunications (DOT), it pointed out that the ‘Aadhaar’ e-KYC would replace the existing PoI/ PoA document based processes. The process would help users in hassle-free acquirement of SIMs.
It said: “In the e-KYC service, customers will online authorise UIDAI through Aadhaar authentication using Aadhaar number and biometrics to provide his/her demographic data, along with his/her photograph to licensees.”
The procedure to acquire mobile connection would become significantly simpler as service providers would be able to provide these services through various mediums including agents, distributors, and employees.
According to reports, Bharti Airtel has planned to roll out the Aadhaar-based e-KYC solution this week. Other companies such as Vodafone India and Idea also plan to rollout the new Aadhaar-based SIM acquisition system in the upcoming weeks.
With the implementation of this process, several problems can be resolved. Customers can acquire SIMs earlier than before. The current process involving documents also cause significant delay at times as the process involved takes time.
The most important benefit of introducing Aadhaar-based process might see an end to selling of illegal SIM cards.
