 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Dec 04, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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NEW DELHI: Even as security agencies are trying to find out details of the five mobile SIM (subscriber identity module) cards recovered from the terrorists after last week’s Mumbai attacks, government data reveals that mobile operators have failed miserably in subscriber identification, putting national security at risk. The Union Home Ministry and the Communications Ministry have issued strict instructions to all operators to thoroughly check and maintain details of all mobile subscribers, particularly those buying new SIM cards. However, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) data reveals that identification details of 15 to 20 per cent subscribers are not verifiable. This means that in India, which has the world’s second largest mobile subscriber base of 35 crore, the identities of almost seven crore subscribers could be in doubt. As per the DoT data updated till June this year, all leading operators fared badly in photo identity and address (PIA) identification and verification of customer acquisition forms (CAF). A CAF verification of Bharti Airtel with over eight crore subscribers showed that only 83.3 per cent could be verified. So the credentials of over one crore of its subscribers are in doubt. In the case of Vodafone-Hutch which has over five crore subscribers, the CAF of only 78.3 per cent could be verified, leaving the identity of over one crore of them in doubt. Reliance Communications has over four crore subscribers, of whom the CAF details of only 80 per cent could be verified. In the case of Idea Cellular and Tata Teleservices with over three crore users each, the CAF particulars of only 75 per cent subscribers could be matched. Ironically, the worst record is that of the State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. The CAF details of only 60 per cent could be matched in the case of BSNL, which has around four crore subscribers, while in MTNL that has operations in two terrorism-affected metros — Delhi and Mumbai — the CAF details of only 63 per cent could be verified. Despite repeated warnings, mobile operators have failed to take the CAF verification process seriously. It was only after the Mecca Masjid blasts in Hyderabad last year that the Centre imposed strict rules for issuance of SIM cards by mobile operators, which included a Rs.1,000 fine for every unverified card. However, the DoT has failed to penalise errant operators.
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