Trai Mulls SIM Rules for IoT

The telecom regulator reviews new policy framework to enable import of SIMs for export-ready smart devices

- Jatin Grover

Manufacturers looking to export connected cars, GPS trackers, and other smart gadgets have a crucial requirement—foreign SIM cards. Without these chips, making products export-ready isn't easy.

Telecom operators have written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) seeking dedicated licenses with at least a 10-year validity for importing foreign SIM or embedded SIM cards for testing and installing in products meant for exports.

Besides, they have also asked that only companies holding a unified telecom license—like licensed telecom operators and registered machine-to-machine (M2M) service providers—be allowed this import license.