The Government of India is considering replacing old SIM cards used in mobile phones following a joint investigation by the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The probe revealed that some SIM cards used chipsets imported from China, raising serious concerns about national security.
In response, the government is reviewing multiple aspects of the issue and exploring the possibility of a nationwide replacement of older SIM cards. The NCSC recently held a high-level meeting with senior officials from major telecom operators such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, as well as representatives from the Department of Telecommunications.
The meeting focused on flaws in the SIM card supply process and discussed a roadmap for replacing potentially compromised SIM cards. In recent years, India has already imposed restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE. Now, to further bolster national security, the government has mandated that all telecom equipment be tested and certified before being imported, sold, or used in the country.
This certification process ensures that telecom devices used in India meet both national and international standards for security, performance, and quality. Generally, telecom companies procure SIM cards from certified vendors. These vendors import chips from trusted sources like Vietnam or Taiwan and then assemble, package, and serialize them in India. However, the investigation found that some vendors misused the Trusted Source Certification system.
Violation of Security Norms Despite Policy Changes in 2021
Although these vendors initially claimed to use components from verified sources, it was later discovered that some of the chips were actually imported from China. In March 2021, the Department of Telecommunications amended the Unified Access Service License to prohibit telecom companies from sourcing equipment from untrusted vendors. The NCSC was assigned the responsibility of approving only trusted suppliers. However, the investigation revealed that some vendors bypassed these regulations, and the supplied chips included Chinese components. As a result, compromised SIM cards may have been distributed both before and after 2021.
India’s Telecom Landscape
India currently has around 1.15 billion mobile subscribers. Mobile numbers in India typically begin with the digits 9, 8, or 7.
Types of SIM Cards
There are three standard types of SIM cards used globally:
- Standard SIM: 25 x 15 mm
- Micro SIM: 15 x 12 mm
- Nano SIM: 12.3 x 8.8 mm
Notably, the first SIM card was launched in Finland in 1991.
Brace for Long Queues
As the government weighs its next steps, mobile users across the country may soon be required to replace their existing SIM cards — a process that could lead to long queues and a nationwide logistical challenge.
