120 crore mobile users pay attention, to preparations to replace old SIM cards, a big threat to security

Old SIMs of 120 crore mobile users of the country may be closed. New SIM cards will be given in its place. The Cyber Security Agency has made a big disclosure about old SIM cards. Some of these SIM cards have been made by Chinese companies. In the investigation of the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), an agency working under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it has been said to replace the old SIM cards.

Threat of breach in security

According to the report published in Mint, due to the old SIM cards being made by Chinese companies, the security of the country can be breached through it. SIM i.e. Subscriber Identity Module is a small chip, which records important information of the mobile user. These include the model of the user's device, IMEI number, location, address, phone number etc. Leaking of this information can lead to the risk of losing the user's digital identity.

Framework will be prepared for SIM replacement

However, the NCSC has admitted that the process of replacing the old SIM card with a new SIM card will be a bit complicated and many technical and legal challenges may also come in the way. The agency has recently held a meeting with the officials of telecom operators - Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea and BSNL in this regard. In this meeting, it has been said to prepare a certain framework to replace the old SIM cards of the users with new ones.

There are about 120 crore mobile users in India at present, out of which only a few users will have old SIM cards, which have been made by Chinese companies. In March 2021, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) amended the rules of Unified Access Service License and directed telecom operators not to buy any equipment from unsafe vendors. Under the new rules, no company can supply telecom equipment without the approval of NCSC.

Buy telecom equipment only from trusted sources

At the same time, in the Telecom Act of 2023, the government has also given instructions to buy telecom equipment from trusted sources. Chinese telecom equipment manufacturing companies Huawei and ZTE have already been banned in India. However, before the ban, these companies had made SIM cards and network equipment for many telecom operators.

This investigation of NSCS is being conducted with the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Home Affairs and other stakeholders. Telecom companies have been instructed to buy telecom equipment from vendors in Vietnam and Taiwan. These vendors are authorized by the agency to sell telecom equipment in India.