Google and Apple have taken down two eSIM service apps, Airalo and Holafly, from the Indian editions of their Play Store and App Store, in compliance with a directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued last week.
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Google and Apple have taken down two eSIM offering apps, Airalo and Holafly, from their respective Play Store and App Store in India.
This action follows a directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) last week. The DoT has also instructed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the websites of these apps within the country.
As per the Hindustan Times report, companies must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the DoT to sell eSIMs in India. Airalo, based in Singapore, and Holafly, based in Spain, were removed because they lacked the required authorization.
Additionally, DoT regulations specify that only authorized dealers can sell eSIMs in India. These dealers are obligated to request proof of identity, such as a passport copy or visa, from customers before providing the SIM card. Authorized sellers are also required to share details of these global SIMs with security agencies.
e-SIMs, according to Apple, are a standard digital SIM technology enabling users to activate a mobile plan without a physical SIM card. Users of iPhones can install more than 8 eSIMs, allowing them to use up to two phone numbers simultaneously.
Concerning the ban on two apps in India, government sources mentioned that fraudsters exploit eSIMs with international numbers to engage in cybercrime within the country. The Hindustan Times reported on the shutdown of Airalo and Holafly due to these fraudulent activities. Despite these bans, other eSIM providers like Nomad eSIM and aloSIM continue to operate in India.
The government issued a fraud alert, warning citizens about scams related to work abroad and providing tips to identify fake job offers. The objective is to protect individuals from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
Based on the most recent NCRB report, there was a 24.4% rise in cybercrime cases in India in 2022. The number of registered cases increased from 52,974 in the previous year to 65,893.
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