New Delhi - Quick commerce platform Blinkit has temporarily suspended its 10-minute SIM card delivery service for Bharti Airtel. This decision follows a directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regarding customer verification processes.

According to reports, the DoT has instructed Airtel to ensure compliance with existing regulations, which mandate Aadhaar-based Know Your Customer (KYC) authentication before the delivery of SIM cards.

This directive comes just two weeks after Airtel, in partnership with Blinkit, launched the service. The service offered doorstep delivery of Airtel SIM cards in under 10 minutes for a convenience fee of Rs 49.

The government reportedly raised objections to Airtel's model, which allowed customers to complete the KYC verification process after the SIM card was delivered. The DoT has clarified that current guidelines require authentication to be completed prior to the handover of any SIM card.

Airtel is now reportedly working to redesign its service workflow to align with these regulations. The company plans to resume the 10-minute delivery service once the necessary changes are implemented.

Currently, Airtel SIM cards are unavailable for purchase through the Blinkit app.

This situation highlights the importance of strict adherence to KYC norms in the telecom sector, even in the context of innovative delivery models.