Fact Check: TRAI will not charge users for having two SIMs in one phone
India has seen a rapid increase in the number of smartphone users, and the increase in the sale of SIM cards also increased manifold. Nowadays, most of the smartphone users own more than 2 SIM cards. In India, the government allows people to register up to nine SIM cards under one name.
TRAI
India has seen a rapid increase in the number of smartphone users, and the increase in the sale of SIM cards also increased manifold. Nowadays, most of the smartphone users own more than 2 SIM cards. In India, the government allows people to register up to nine SIM cards under one name.
Meanwhile, a message claiming that if there are 2 SIM cards in a mobile phone, TRAI will impose a fine for using 2 SIMs in one phone. The message in Hindi goes as “एक मोबाइल फ़ोन में 2 सिम यूज़
Along with the message, a screenshot of a news report from NEWS 24 is in circulation. But, we could not find any reports online except the screenshot shared by several social media users. The tweet was shared by all social media users with the same claim alleging that the newly formed government needs to recover the expenses and so they are collecting irrational charges from the public in the name of TRAI.
We also found a report published on navbharattimes, if you are using a mobile phone with two SIM cards and keeping one inactive, you might have to pay a charge, either as a lump sum or annually.
Fact Check:
The claim is misleading. TRAI has not made any such announcement. Proposals made as part of the consultation papers released by TRAI were misinterpreted.
When we searched the social media accounts of TRAI, we found a post by them published on June 14, 2024 stating that the speculation that TRAI intends to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs/ numbering resources is unequivocally false. Such claims are unfounded and serve only to mislead the public.
We also found a report by Timesnownews.com, stating that no such policy is being considered. According to the report, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has clearly said that customers will not be charged for holding SIM cards. TRAI recently released a consultation paper on ‘Revision of National Numbering Plan’ inviting comments from stakeholders. The consultation paper is issued by them with the aim to assess all factors currently affecting the allocation and utilization of Telecommunication Identifier (TI) resources.
TRAI in a statement said “It has come to our attention that some media houses (print, electronic, and social media) have reported that TRAI has proposed introducing fees for mobile and landline numbers with the aim to ensure efficient allocation and use of these finite resources. The speculation that TRAI intends to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs/ numbering resources is unequivocally false. Such claims are unfounded and serve only to mislead the public”
Therefore, the claim that TRAI will be charging mobile users for having 2 sims in 1 phone is False.