New Delhi: Users of WhatsApp, Telegram and other messaging platforms in India may need to keep their registered mobile numbers linked to an active SIM card or eSIM under proposed government SIM-binding requirements. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has extended the compliance deadline to December 31, 2026, following representations from the industry, with the changes potentially affecting users from January 1, 2027.

The proposed framework could change how messaging accounts operate on devices where the registered SIM is no longer present. Currently, users can register accounts with a mobile number and continue accessing them even after removing the SIM used during registration, provided the service’s authentication requirements are met.

Under the proposed rules, messaging platforms that rely on Indian mobile numbers for registration would be required to ensure that the corresponding active SIM or eSIM remains present on the device. If the registered connection is removed or deactivated, access to certain messaging functions could be interrupted until the user restores the required connection.

The proposal is intended to make it harder for fraudsters to misuse Indian mobile numbers for impersonation and cybercrime. However, it could also affect legitimate users who use messaging services across multiple devices, travel internationally or keep their registered SIM in a secondary phone.

What is SIM binding and how does it work?

SIM binding is a mechanism that links a messaging account to the active mobile connection associated with its registered phone number.

When users create accounts on services such as WhatsApp and Telegram, they generally verify their phone numbers through an authentication process, often involving a one-time password or verification call. Once registration is complete, some services allow users to continue using their accounts without keeping the original SIM card inside the device.

The proposed SIM-binding framework would introduce an additional requirement by linking continued access to the presence of the registered active SIM or eSIM.

Under the reported proposal, platforms would need to verify that the mobile connection associated with an account remains active and available on the device. If the SIM is removed, replaced or deactivated, the service could restrict functionality until the registered number is restored through a valid SIM card or eSIM profile.

The requirements are expected to cover both physical SIM cards and eSIMs. Therefore, users who rely on an active eSIM associated with their registered number would not necessarily need a physical SIM card to comply.

The precise implementation will depend on the final requirements and how individual platforms adapt their applications and authentication systems.

Why is the government proposing SIM-binding rules?

The DoT has proposed the measure as part of efforts to combat cybercrime, including phishing, impersonation and digital arrest scams.

According to the rationale reported for the proposal, fraudsters have obtained Indian SIM cards, registered messaging accounts using those numbers and subsequently operated the accounts from outside the country. Such arrangements can make it more difficult to establish who is controlling an account and can allow criminals to misuse phone numbers associated with Indian mobile connections.

SIM binding is intended to introduce another layer of verification by requiring the registered mobile connection to remain linked to the device being used.

The government has also cited the financial losses suffered by Indian consumers through cybercrime as a reason for strengthening safeguards around digital communications.

However, SIM binding should not be viewed as a complete solution to online fraud. Criminals may still attempt to exploit compromised accounts, stolen devices, social engineering and other weaknesses. The effectiveness of the measure will depend on how it is implemented and how platforms handle exceptions, account recovery and legitimate multi-device use.

Which messaging apps could be affected?

WhatsApp and Telegram are expected to fall within the scope of the proposed requirements because they use phone numbers as part of their account registration processes.

Signal’s position remains unclear in the information available, with reports indicating that the platform had not responded to government communications when the matter was reviewed. Snapchat, meanwhile, has reportedly been considered unlikely to fall within the proposed framework.

The final impact on each platform will depend on the scope of the government’s requirements and the technical changes introduced by the services.

For WhatsApp users, the proposal could affect how accounts remain accessible when the registered SIM is removed from a phone. Telegram users may also need to review how their registered numbers are used across devices.

Signal users should wait for official clarification about the platform’s obligations rather than assume that the same implementation will apply to every messaging service.

Importantly, the proposal concerns SIM verification and account authentication. It does not establish that WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal will stop supporting particular iPhone or Android models from January 1, 2027.

Who could face problems under the proposed rules?

The requirements could particularly affect people who use messaging accounts on devices that do not contain the registered SIM card.

For example, some users keep their primary mobile number in one phone but use WhatsApp on a second device, such as a tablet or another smartphone. Others remove their SIM after account registration and rely on Wi-Fi for messaging.

If the final rules require the registered SIM to remain present in the device running the messaging account, these arrangements could require changes.

Users who travel internationally may also need to consider how their registered number remains active while they use local SIM cards or travel eSIMs. A travel eSIM does not automatically replace the registered Indian number for the purposes of a SIM-binding requirement.

People using dual-SIM phones may need to ensure that the number registered with their messaging account remains active and satisfies the platform’s verification requirements.

The exact effect on linked devices, tablets, desktop applications and companion phones will depend on the final rules and the technical approach adopted by each platform. Users should not assume that every secondary device will be treated identically.

What happens if the registered SIM is removed or deactivated?

Under the proposed framework, removing or deactivating the registered SIM could result in restrictions on the associated messaging account.

A user who changes phones, switches mobile operators or replaces a SIM may need to complete the necessary verification steps to restore access. If the original number is no longer active, account recovery could become more complicated.

This is particularly relevant for people who maintain messaging accounts using numbers they rarely use or whose prepaid connections have expired.

Users should ensure that their registered mobile numbers remain active and that they can receive verification messages when required. They should also keep their account recovery information up to date and follow official instructions from the messaging service when changing devices or SIM cards.

The proposal does not, by itself, establish that every account will be permanently deleted if a SIM is removed. The precise consequences will depend on the final regulatory requirements and each platform’s implementation.

What should WhatsApp and Telegram users do now?

With the reported compliance deadline set for December 31, 2026, users should monitor official announcements from the DoT and the messaging platforms before making major changes to their devices or accounts.

There is no need to purchase a new phone solely because of the proposal. The reported requirements concern the relationship between an account and its registered mobile connection, rather than a particular handset brand or operating system.

Users can take a few precautionary steps:

  • Keep the mobile number registered with the messaging account active.
  • Avoid allowing the associated prepaid connection to expire.
  • Check whether the registered number remains available when changing phones or SIM cards.
  • Review official guidance about linked devices and multi-device access as platforms announce their implementation plans.
  • Install official app and operating system updates to receive security and compatibility changes.

People who rely on a secondary device for messaging should pay particular attention to the final requirements, as their arrangements may be affected more directly.

SIM binding could change messaging habits in India

The proposed SIM-binding requirements reflect the government’s efforts to reduce the misuse of Indian mobile numbers in cybercrime. By linking messaging accounts more closely to active SIM connections, authorities aim to make certain forms of impersonation and cross-border fraud more difficult.

At the same time, the changes could create challenges for users who depend on Wi-Fi-only access, multiple devices or mobile numbers that are not continuously active.

The compliance deadline of December 31, 2026, gives messaging platforms time to respond to the requirements, but the precise user experience will depend on the final rules and the technical solutions introduced by individual services.

For now, keeping registered numbers active and following official updates are sensible precautions. Users should also remember that SIM binding is only one potential safeguard against fraud and does not replace basic security practices such as protecting verification codes, checking suspicious messages and never sharing banking credentials with unknown callers.