Just two weeks after launching a first-of-its-kind partnership, Airtel and Blinkit have quietly paused their 10-minute SIM card delivery service. A search on Blinkit now shows no available Airtel SIM options. According to reports, the move came after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) raised concerns about whether proper KYC (Know Your Customer) norms were being followed.
The DoT reportedly issued reminders to telecom providers to strictly adhere to the self-KYC guidelines, which allow customers to apply for mobile connections digitally and receive SIMs at home. The process requires electronic ID and address verification via platforms like DigiLocker or Aadhaar (UIDAI).
Airtel had confirmed earlier that the Blinkit-based SIM deliveries followed Aadhaar-based KYC authentication. Customers could choose from prepaid, postpaid, or port their existing number to Airtel during this process.
While Airtel also has a SIM delivery partnership with Amazon, the Blinkit initiative covered 16 major cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and others.
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa had said that Blinkit would handle deliveries, while Airtel ensured a smooth online KYC and activation process. However, the service has now been temporarily halted following regulatory review.
