2-yr extension to prepaid mobile services in J&K, NE States

The Union Home Ministry on Monday gave clearance for a two-year extension to prepaid mobile phone services in Jammu & Kashmir and northeastern States.  The licences of telecom operators for prepaid services were to end on Thursday.  There are 3.3 crore subscribers in these regions using prepaid mobile phones, which came under the radar of security agencies due to lack of proper identification.  A high-level committee, headed by Union Home Secretary lC Goyal, discussed the matter after which it was decided to give the nod for continuance of these pre-paid services, official sources said.  The Home Ministry, while granting permission, reiterated to the service providers that they have to maintain utmost precaution in issuing SIM cards and ensure proper verification.

Of the roughly 3.5 crore telecom subscribers in the three circles of J and K, Assam and Northeast, about 3.3 crore have opted for pre-paid services. In 2009, the Department of Telecom had banned prepaid mobile services in these regions on grounds of national security. The ban was withdrawn the next year but the department tightened the verification process for new customers and ordered re-verification of existing subscribers.  Prepaid SIM cards issued in these three regions will, however, continue to remain non-operational outside their telecom circles.