Apple updates iOS to support SIM binding ahead of Indian regulatory deadline
Apple has reportedly modified its iOS operating system to accommodate India's SIM binding mandate, which is scheduled to take effect by December 31.
Ahead of the December 31 deadline set by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Apple has integrated changes into its iOS environment to facilitate SIM binding. This regulatory requirement mandates that messaging applications link user accounts to the specific SIM card installed in their device, a move aimed at curbing fraudulent activity originating from outside the country.
Industry experts and company representatives have previously highlighted technical friction regarding the mandate. Parag Kar, a former Qualcomm executive, noted that persistent SIM validation is difficult to achieve without deep-level support from mobile operating system developers like Apple and Google. Prior reports indicated that Apple had initially resisted the implementation, raising concerns over the feasibility of the government's requirements.
Compliance remains uneven across the industry. While platforms like WhatsApp and Zoho's Arattai have confirmed they are developing features to meet the rules, other providers such as Signal have not responded to government notices. Snapchat has argued that the regulations do not apply to its platform as it does not utilize phone numbers as primary user identifiers.
The policy has sparked debate among industry analysts, including Medianama founder Nikhil Pahwa, who warned that the mandate could disrupt existing services and business workflows. Supporters of the regulation argue that technical measures are necessary to combat scammers who use messaging platforms to operate from abroad.