(a) whether the Union Government has banned circulation of bulk SMS and MMS in the country in the wake of exodus of
North-Eastern people from Bengaluru;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government is making any review of the ban imposed;
(d) if so, the details thereof and is not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to regulate the mobile operators issuing mobile connections without proper
verification?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) to (d) Madam, keeping in view the Security scenario at that time, Government directed all the Telecom Service
Providers on 17.08.2012 to take following action with immediate effect:
(i) Block Bulk SMS (more than 5) for next 15 days in the entire country across all states/Union territories.
(ii) Block bulk MMS (more than 5) and all MMS with attachment more than 25 KB for the next 15 days in the entire country
across all states/Union territories.
(iii) This restriction of SMS/MMS does not apply on the SMS/MMS in respect of transactional messages related to
institutions such banking, financial institutes and railways.
Based on review of the situation, Government decided on 23.08.2012 to revise the permissible limit of Bulk SMS/MMS to
‘Twenty’ in place of ‘Five’ and finally these restrictions were withdrawn on 30.08.2012.
(e) Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells of Department of Telecommunication carry out monthly
sample verification of Customer Acquisition Form/ Customer Application Form (CAF)/ Subscriber Acquisition Form (SAF)
along with supporting documents to cross check the compliance on photo, identity, address (PIA) basis. Penalty is imposed
on respective Telecom Service Provider for the non-compliance cases. Further, Department of Telecommunication has issued
new stringent instructions on verification of mobile subscribers vide No. 800-09/2010-VAS dated 09.08.2012 in compliance to
the directions contained in the judgment and order dated 27.04.2012 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.