Mobile Users Very Soon Can Switch from Post-Paid to Pre-Paid and Vice-Versa Using OTP

The subscriber will receive a message confirming the request for mobile account conversion, as well as a particular transaction ID and a 10-minute OTP, after the order is sent.

According to an official DoT note, mobile phone subscribers can soon be able to switch from a postpaid connection to a prepaid connection and vice versa using OTP-based authentication and without the need to change SIM cards. The mechanism was introduced by the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) to the Department of Telecom (DoT), which has asked telecom operators to conduct proof of concept (PoC) tests.

According to the DoT note, the result of the PoC will determine whether or not the account can be changed.

"The PoC for conversion from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa may be carried out by the telecom service providers as per the procedure...The decision regarding implementation of the procedure shall be taken after the assessment of the outcome of the PoC," DoT ADG Suresh Kumar said in the note issued on May 21.

On April 9, the COAI, which includes Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, requested permission from the DoT to enable mobile customers to switch from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa without having to go through a new KYC process and using OTP (one-time password) based authentication.

"OTP based authentication has become an acceptable norm in all sectors in the recent past and most of the citizen centric services are being offered with OTP authentication. Contactless services in the present era are to be promoted for subscriber convenience and also for ease of doing business," the note said.

Mobile subscribers who want to switch their current mobile link from pre-paid to postpaid or vice versa will have to send a request to their service provider via SMS, IVRS, website, or approved app, according to the proposed procedure.

The subscriber will receive a message confirming the request for mobile account conversion, as well as a particular transaction ID and a 10-minute OTP, after the order is sent.

The subscriber's approval will be taken into account if the OTP is successfully verified, and the telecom operator will notify him of the date and time when the conversion will be considered effective.

"The disruption of services, if any, during the said conversion shall not exceed 30 minutes," the DoT note said.

Prepaid service is currently used by over 90% of mobile subscribers.

There will be no alteration in the ownership of the mobile link under the new facility, and the customer's SIM card will remain in his or her possession.

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