The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, has issued an Office Memorandum (O.M.) notifying the Framework for Transfer of M2M SIM Ownership between Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Service Providers (M2MSPs) or licensees.

Until now, there was no formal provision for changing the ownership of M2M SIMs under existing guidelines. This often led to service disruptions for end users whenever a transfer between M2M service providers was required.

The new framework establishes a structured and compliant procedure to ensure smooth ownership transitions without affecting service continuity. The framework applies to all M2M Service Providers and licensees operating in India.

Streamlined transfer process

The procedure involves the following key steps:

Transfer request by user or third party: The M2M service user must submit a written request to the existing service provider (the ‘transferor’), listing the SIMs and naming the new provider (the ‘transferee’).

No Objection Certificate (NOC): Within 15 days, the transferor must issue an NOC to the Access Service Provider(s), provided the user has no outstanding dues.

Undertaking by transferee: The new M2MSP must file an undertaking accepting all responsibilities and liabilities, including KYC compliance, for the transferred SIMs.

Verification and update by Access Service Provider (ASP): The ASP will verify the transfer request, NOC, and undertaking, re-conduct KYC verification, and update subscriber records to reflect the new ownership.

Each M2M SIM must remain continuously mapped to a licensed M2M service provider to avoid any disruption in services.

The introduction of this framework highlights the DoT’s commitment to protecting consumer interests while enabling operational flexibility for telecom service providers. It aims to strengthen the reliability and future-readiness of India’s M2M and IoT ecosystem.