Telcos seek more time to phase out Aadhaar-based e-KYC, implement alternate system

摘要

Mobile phone companies have requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to give them 15 more days till November 20 to implement the alternate digital process for verifying new subscribers, during which time they should be allowed to also run the Aadhaar-based authentication process. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing all private operators, in a letter dated October 31 said that while the service providers will submit their proof of concept of the new digital process by earlier deadline of November 5, it was not feasible to stop Aadhaar-based electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) by that date. This was because telcos had to reach out to millions of retail stores, with many in far flung areas, and therefore needed more time for it. The alternate digital process envisages a customer acquisition form (CAF) be embedded with live photographs of subscribers and scanned images of a proof of address and identify, which will make the entire process paperless. COAI though confirmed that telcos had "completely stopped" Aadhaar-based re-verification of older subscribers, as per the DoT's directives a week back, issued following the Supreme Court order of September 26, barring private entities from using the 12-digit unique ID for digital authentication.