The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications has finalized and issued a new Framework for Transfer of M2M SIM Ownership between licensed Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Service Providers.

Until now, there was no mechanism to change the ownership of M2M SIMs, often leading to service disruption when users needed to shift from one M2M Service Provider (M2MSP) to another. The newly introduced framework addresses this gap, ensuring a smooth and compliant transfer process without interrupting services.

Under the new procedure, M2M Service Users or third parties can formally request a transfer from the existing M2M SP (transferor) to a new provider (transferee). The transferor must issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) within 15 days, provided there are no outstanding dues. The transferee must then submit an undertaking accepting full responsibility for the SIMs, including KYC compliance and regulatory obligations.

Following verification of documents, the Access Service Provider (ASP) will update subscriber records with the new ownership details while ensuring continuity of service. Each M2M SIM must remain mapped to an authorized M2M SP or licensee at all times.

The detailed Office Memorandum and required formats for the transfer request, NOC, and undertaking are available on the DoT website at https://dot.gov.in/all-circulars?tid=3197.

The move reinforces the DoT’s commitment to protecting user interests and enhancing operational flexibility for service providers, ensuring that India’s M2M and IoT ecosystem continues to evolve in a secure, reliable, and future-ready manner.