In accordance with the recent Union Cabinet approval, the requirement of storage of paper Customer Application Forms (CAFs) has been discontinued. The Licensees may replace the paper-based CAFs with digitally signed scanned copies.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are permitted to store the digitally scanned coloured copies of the Paper-based CAF documents. Digitally scanned copies of the CAF documents must be maintained for all the active customers. In case of migrated/disconnected subscribers, digitally scanned copies of CAF documents shall be retained for a period of three years from the date of migration/ disconnection
The telecom operators have been allowed to digitise customer application forms, a move that is expected to ease updating of subscribers’ data.
All the necessary precautions will be taken by the TSPs while digitizing the paper CAF documents. The scanned copy should be clearly readable/legible and the subscribers should be identifiable from the scanned photograph.
Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar, DG, COAI commented, “We applaud the new directive issued by Department of Telecommunications around the digitization of Customer Application Forms(CAFs) by the telecom service providers. As we step into the era of digitized world, these guidelines are part of a landmark decision that will help streamline processes for the service providers of the country. It is a hassle-free environment-friendly solution for service providers as well as consumers who will now be able to access information on a digital platform and renew or create changes basis the latest information with ease. All the associated documents will be uploaded and stored in an orderly manner online and it will result in creating a database which will simplify doing business for service providers.”