Covered apps include WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Signal. WhatsApp, with an estimated 500 million users in India, has begun beta-testing SIM binding on Android.
New Delhi: Messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and others, face new access restrictions in India as the Central Government prepares to implement SIM-binding rules from January 1, 2027.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed platforms to link user accounts with the active SIM used for registration by December 31, 2026.
The rules, issued on November 28, 2025, under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, aim to prevent cyber fraud involving Indian mobile numbers. Platforms must ensure accounts remain associated with a live SIM installed in the device. This differs from current one-time password verification, which allows continued access even after the SIM is removed or disabled.
Users relying on Wi-Fi without the registered SIM, those operating multiple devices, frequent SIM changers, international travellers and people using tablets solely on Wi-Fi are likely to face disruptions. Removing the SIM, disabling the number or messaging from a device without it could interrupt service.
Covered apps include WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Signal. WhatsApp, with an estimated 500 million users in India, has begun beta-testing SIM binding on Android. Exact effects will depend on how each platform implements the requirements.
The Ministry of Communications said cybercriminals have exploited the existing gap for digital fraud, including impersonation scams. Losses from cyber fraud exceeded ₹22,800 crore last year. The measures are intended to improve traceability and reduce misuse of telecom identifiers.