The Department of Telecommunications (“DoT”) on 21st March 2024 amended the existing KYC instructions for Machine to Machine (“M2M”) connections to relax the restrictive features for M2M connections (“M2M KYC Amendment”).
By way of background, the guidelines for the registration of M2M service providers & WPAN/WLAN connectivity providers for M2M Services dated 8th February 2022 (“M2M Guidelines”) regulate and operationalize M2M services in India through registration under such guidelines. The M2M Guidelines prescribe a host of requirements for such providers including inter alia adherence to KYC and related guidelines issued by DoT to authorized Telecom Service Providers (“TSPs”) from time to time. Accordingly, all guidelines/instructions issued by the DoT on M2M services including the KYC Instructions, as amended by the M2M KYC Amendment, apply to the provision of M2M services. Furthermore, the DoT can also request information regarding adherence to the KYC Instructions, as and when necessary.
The DoT, on 21st March 2024, has eased the erstwhile instructions issued by DoT on 16th May 2018, and 30th May 2019 (“KYC Instructions”) regarding the implementation of restrictive features for subscriber identity module cards (“SIM”) used for M2M communication services and associated know your customer (“KYC”) instructions via the M2M KYC Amendment. The M2M KYC Amendment has allowed the use of SIM cards for M2M communications services in the following manner:
- Outgoing/incoming calls will be allowed to/from a predefined set of a maximum of 4 numbers only.
- Likewise outgoing/incoming SMS will be allowed to/from a predefined set of a maximum of 4 numbers only.
- Data communications will be allowed on a maximum of 100 (one hundred) predefined public internet protocol (“IP”) addresses/uniform resource locator (“URLs”) with fixed access point names (“APNs”) or equivalent technology options by the TSPs.
- These restrictions do not apply to calls made to emergency numbers like police, fire, ambulance, etc.
A list of such numbers/IP addresses is to be provided to the TSPs while obtaining M2M SIM cards. Should there be a need to modify this list at a later stage, the TSPs can be requested to update or reconfigure these numbers and IP addresses accordingly. These restrictive features do not apply to data communication on private networks or virtual private networks.
Previously, data communication was allowed on a maximum of 4 numbers of predefined public IP addresses/URLs with fixed APNs or equivalent technology options by TSP. However, with the M2M KYC Amendment, data communication will be allowed on a maximum of 100 numbers of predefined public IP addresses/URLs with fixed APNs or equivalent technology options by the TSPs.
Our Take
The DoT’s M2M KYC Amendment relaxes restrictive features for M2M SIM connections, allowing M2M service providers to leverage up to 100 predefined public IP addresses/URLs and accordingly service more customers per SIM card. This DoT initiative demonstrates a commitment to fostering a more supportive environment for M2M communication, potentially acting as a catalyst for the growth of the M2M industry and the broader Internet of Things ecosystem in India.
Links
Amendment to the existing KYC instructions for M2M connections- relaxation of the restrictive features for M2M connections –
https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/m2m.pdf?download=1
Guidelines dated 8th February 2022 for registration process of ‘Machine to Machine’ service providers & WPAN/WLAN Connectivity Providers for M2M Service –
https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/M2MSP%20Guidelines%20.pdf?download=1
Relaxation of the restrictive features for M2M connections and extension of timelines for making the existing M2M connections compliant to the DoT’s M2M instructions dated 16.05.2018 –https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/M2M%20SIMs%20Relaxation_0.PDF?download=1
Instructions for implementing restrictive features for SIMs used only for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication services (M2M SIMs) and related Know Your Customer (KYC) instructions for issuing M2M SIMs to entity/organization providing M2M Communication Services under bulk category and instructions for Embedded-SIMs (e-SIMs) –
