Google and Apple Restrict Two e-SIM Applications in India for Usage as per Government of India Guidelines -

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Google and Apple Restrict Two e-SIM Applications in India for Usage as per Government of India Guidelines

Synopsis:

In compliance with a Government of India directive from DoT, Apple and Google have removed two e-SIM applications Airalo and Holafly from their respective app stores in India.

Following directions from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to combat cyber fraud, Google and Apple have eliminated the international eSIM apps Airalo and Holafly from their app stores in India.

According to the Times of India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued additional instructions to internet service providers and telecom corporations to restrict access to websites linked to these applications. The restriction is a result of the fraudulent use of unlicensed eSIMs, which include foreign phone numbers, by cybercriminals operating in India.

Both Airalo and Holafly, the two banned applications, were eliminated from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India in compliance with the directives of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The Department of Telecommunications, under the jurisdiction of the telecom ministry, commenced the removal process to counteract cyber fraud.

Furthermore, the government has advised internet service providers and telecommunications companies to implement restrictions on accessing websites linked to these applications within the nation.

The applications that have been impacted are Airalo and Holafly, both of which offer eSIM services for global telephony. The Google Play Store has explicitly deleted these applications for the Indian market. Despite the removal, both Apple and Google have refrained from issuing an official remark regarding this step.

For instance, a search on the Google Play store said that Holafly is “unavailable in your geographical area”. The companies promptly complied with the orders issued by the DoT on January 4.

The government’s decision to prohibit these applications stems from the discovery that criminals were exploiting unapproved eSIMs equipped with overseas phone numbers to commit cybercrimes and deceive innocent individuals.

Providers of eSIM services must get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in order to sell digital SIM cards for voice calls and internet data without the need for a physical SIM card.

However, Nomad eSIM and aloSIM are still available for users in India to download and utilize via these application stores.

About The Author:

Yogesh Naager is a content marketer who specializes in the cybersecurity and B2B space. Besides writing for the News4Hackers blog, he’s also written for brands including CollegeDunia, Utsav Fashion, and NASSCOM. Naager entered the field of content in an unusual way. He began his career as an insurance sales executive, where he developed an interest in simplifying difficult concepts. He also combines this interest with a love of narrative, which makes him a good writer in the cybersecurity field. In the bottom line, he frequently writes for Craw Security.

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