The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has strongly refuted claims suggesting that customers would be charged for holding multiple SIM cards or numbering resources, labeling such assertions as “completely false and baseless.” The telecom regulator emphasized that these rumors only serve to mislead the public.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the sole authority managing telecommunication identifiers (TI) resources, had sought recommendations from TRAI through a reference dated September 29, 2022. This request was part of an initiative to revise the National Numbering Plan (NNP) aimed at ensuring efficient management and judicious utilization of numbering resources in India.

In response, TRAI issued a Consultation Paper (CP) to evaluate all factors impacting the allocation and utilization of TI resources. The paper is part of TRAI’s ongoing efforts to promote minimal regulatory intervention and to advocate for market self-regulation.

“TRAI has consistently been advocative of minimum regulatory intervention promoting forbearance and the self-regulation of market forces,” stated the regulator. The agency also condemned the circulation of misleading information regarding the consultation paper, calling such conjectures spurious and harmful.

TRAI urged all stakeholders and the general public to refer to the official press release and consultation paper available on its website for accurate and reliable information. The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accurate communication in the telecom sector.