New Delhi, Dec 10 (NationPress) The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has addressed the misunderstandings circulating following the Union government’s announcement regarding the necessity of SIM binding for utilizing communication services via applications. The organization emphasized that this move is primarily designed to protect the interests of citizens.

The industry body asserted that the notion that SIM binding will hinder users, especially those traveling abroad, is unfounded.

According to COAI, 'SIM binding is already a common element in popular digital authentication methods like UPI and various payment applications, where the SIM merely needs to be active and present in the device without the requirement of active mobile data.'

This approach can be easily adapted to app-based communication, allowing users traveling internationally to continue their services through Wi-Fi or a foreign SIM while keeping their Indian SIM in a secondary slot, it added.

In response to concerns about the potential inconvenience for international travelers, especially those using single-SIM devices, the COAI clarified that this is a necessary security measure aimed at preventing misuse from both within and outside India, as well as curbing untraceable fraud and scams.

'This ensures that our communication channels are not freely exploited by fraudsters or non-state actors from outside India, who present significant threats to national security and citizen safety,' the telecom advocacy group stated.

Furthermore, users will still have access to communication app features based on the existing regulations of the country they are in, but the Indian recipient will have their app linked to the Indian SIM, thereby enhancing both individual and national security.

The association also indicated that the requirement for time-based reauthentication, such as a six-hour logout cycle, is in line with best practices for identity-sensitive digital services like Fintech.

High-value systems, including banking portals, DigiLocker, Aadhaar, and VPNs, impose much stricter session expiration policies. SIM binding acts as a multi-layered defense, reinforcing one of the most frequently exploited vulnerabilities in digital communication.

The COAI labeled privacy concerns as misplaced, asserting that SIM binding does not necessitate additional data collection by app-based communication services and does not generate new metadata categories.

'SIM binding does not interfere with enterprise messaging, CRM systems, APIs, or business workflows. It functions exclusively at the user account level, ensuring that each account is associated with a verified SIM,' the industry body concluded.