Messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram are reportedly set to implement the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) SIM-binding mandate from January 1, 2027, requiring their services to remain linked to the active SIM associated with a user’s registered mobile number.
According to a Times of India report, platforms must complete implementation by December 31, 2026, ahead of the reported operational start date the following day. The requirement could affect users who access messaging apps on phones without the associated SIM.
The mandate stems from directions issued by the DoT in November last year under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024. The original directions named WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, and JioChat.
The department said some app-based communication services continued to function without the SIM associated with the registered mobile number being present in the device. According to the DoT, this allowed fraudsters operating from outside India to misuse Indian mobile numbers.
SIM binding requires covered services to remain continuously linked to the associated active SIM, rather than relying solely on verification when an account is first set up. The government said the measure was intended to improve traceability and curb phishing, digital arrest, impersonation, and investment scams.
The original directions gave platforms 90 days to implement the measures and 120 days to submit compliance reports. However, the government subsequently specified December 31, 2026, as the compliance deadline for SIM binding.
Platforms Prepare For Compliance
According to a CNBC report, Apple has updated its iOS software to support the SIM-binding requirements ahead of the implementation deadline.
WhatsApp and Arattai have confirmed that they are working to comply with the rules. Telegram is yet to clarify on its compliance status, while Signal has not responded to government notices, CNBC reported.
Snapchat has reportedly maintained that the mandate does not apply to its service because it does not use phone numbers to identify users.
Questions also remain about how individual platforms will support eSIM users. CNBC reported that WhatsApp and Telegram would require a physical SIM card to function, although the precise requirements for eSIM users have not been clarified.
The mandate could affect users who access messaging apps over Wi-Fi on phones without their registered SIM, as well as those who frequently switch SIMs. Its impact on access across multiple devices will depend on individual platforms’ implementation.
However, the DoT has clarified that international roaming will not be affected as long as the associated SIM remains in the handset.
The implementation push comes amid concerns over cyber fraud in India. According to data sourced from the home ministry, Indians lost ₹22,495 Cr to cyber fraud in 2025 compared with ₹22,845 Cr in 2024.
In June, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Indians had lost around ₹52,976 Cr to cyber-enabled fraud over the past six years, with nearly 8% of the losses linked to digital arrest scams.
Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on global technology companies, financial institutions, and telecom operators to work together to build a comprehensive framework to tackle cyber fraud and deepfakes.
“At a time when telecom and digital technology have become so important, it is equally important to make the security framework associated with it ironclad. It is our priority to secure mobile phones and networks,” Modi said, adding that trust was crucial for people using phones to communicate and make payments.
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