Indian Government Prohibits Two eSIM Apps from Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Apple and Google are quick to comply with Indian government requests to remove apps, and this time is no exception. The two tech giants have removed two eSIM service apps from the App Store and Google PlayStore.
Airalo and Holafly are two applications that offer international eSIM services. They are located in Singapore and Spain. The apps have been removed at the request of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and several ISPs have been directed to restrict user access to these apps and their websites.
Why are these apps banned in India?
While there has been no official statement from the government, these apps were found to be used by bad actors who exploited unauthorized eSIM cards to commit cybercrime against several Indians, reports The Times of India. This was done primarily by gaining access to international numbers without checks. In addition, fraudsters use these eSIM cards to mask locations and identities.
Please note that this does not affect the availability of eSIM cards in India in general. You can still get them once you’ve done your due diligence and followed the regulatory process. However, it is important to remember that all eSIM providers are required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the DoT, and Holafly and Airalo failed to do so and were therefore dismissed.
Nevertheless, even after these apps have been removed, people looking for options for international travel or temporary international numbers can turn to other existing services such as aloSIM and Nomad.
