Devesh
Core Member
Re-verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar-based eKYC will cost an estimated Rs 2,500 crore, mobile operators' body COAI said today, seeking certain exemptions in the process.
"The re-verification activity entails a huge cost which is borne by the telecom service providers. In this case, the activity needs to be carried out for about 1,000 million subscribers which is a huge number and involves a humongous resources and efforts," said Rajan Mathews, Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India.
In a letter to the Telecom Department, COAI has estimated the cost of carrying out this activity at about Rs 2,500 crore.
The letter came in response to a meeting by the Telecom Department on the issue of re-verification of existing subscribers through Aadhaar-based eKYC.
Last month, telecom regulator Trai had suggested verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC.
The Supreme Court too has asked the Centre to apprise it about the steps which can be taken to scrutinise the existing and future mobile users in the country.
In its letter, COAI has suggested that once the eKYC based activation facility reaches an acceptable levels, new customer activation should only be allowed through e-KYC except in case of foreign nationals and company-owned connections.
This, said COAI, would have to be mandatory precursor, as otherwise new non-eKYC subscribers would continue to be added into the system.
COAI believes that Aadhaar-based eKYC re-verification exercise will be "robust", as the verification of demographic details would happen through the government database.
re-verification of old subscribers to cost rs 2,500 crore: coai, Telecom News, ET Telecom
"The re-verification activity entails a huge cost which is borne by the telecom service providers. In this case, the activity needs to be carried out for about 1,000 million subscribers which is a huge number and involves a humongous resources and efforts," said Rajan Mathews, Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India.
In a letter to the Telecom Department, COAI has estimated the cost of carrying out this activity at about Rs 2,500 crore.
The letter came in response to a meeting by the Telecom Department on the issue of re-verification of existing subscribers through Aadhaar-based eKYC.
Last month, telecom regulator Trai had suggested verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based e-KYC.
The Supreme Court too has asked the Centre to apprise it about the steps which can be taken to scrutinise the existing and future mobile users in the country.
In its letter, COAI has suggested that once the eKYC based activation facility reaches an acceptable levels, new customer activation should only be allowed through e-KYC except in case of foreign nationals and company-owned connections.
This, said COAI, would have to be mandatory precursor, as otherwise new non-eKYC subscribers would continue to be added into the system.
COAI believes that Aadhaar-based eKYC re-verification exercise will be "robust", as the verification of demographic details would happen through the government database.
re-verification of old subscribers to cost rs 2,500 crore: coai, Telecom News, ET Telecom
