BSNL to launch SIMs without Aadhaar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 18

Less than a fortnight after a news-report carried in these columns stated that the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was insisting on Aadhaar number and biometric verification for free SIM cards with a family plan, the telecom claimed that new software was being developed for providing the scheme without Aadhaar. “It is going to be implemented within a short period,” said a senior functionary in the telecom giant.

The BSNL had recently launched a new family broadband plan “BBG Combo UID 1199 Family”, wherein the family was required to submit Aadhaar-based identity proof, he added.

Going into the technicalities, the functionary said, “The wireless broadband and GSM technology are to be combined at a single platform. Hence, Aadhaar is used as common ID proof due to this technical reason only. Otherwise, the BSNL does not insist on Aadhaar number for activation of mobile connections and has been providing services with and without it.”

“The BSNL never insists on showing Aadhaar cards for its services other than this particular plan. Approximately, 34,888 mobile connections have been provided by the Chandigarh SSA to customers on IDs other than biometrics of Aadhaar card,” he added.

Among other things, the BSNL has also offered three mobile connections free with unlimited local and STD calling on any network.