Google and Apple have removed the international eSIM apps Airalo and Holafly from their Indian app stores following directives from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) aimed at mitigating cyber fraud.
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The DoT has further instructed internet service providers and telecom companies to block access to the websites associated with these apps, Times of India reported The ban stems from the misuse of unauthorized eSIMs with international phone numbers by fraudsters engaging in cybercrimes within India.
Both Airalo and Holafly, the two prohibited apps, were removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India in response to the DoT’s orders. The Department of Telecommunications, operating under the telecom ministry, initiated the removal to combat cyber fraud. In addition, the government has urged internet service providers and telecom companies to block access to the websites associated with these apps within the country.
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Airalo and Holafly, which provided eSIM services for global telecommunications, are the affected applications. Google Play Store has removed these apps specifically for the Indian market. Despite the removal, neither Apple nor Google has issued an official statement regarding this action. For example, a check on Google Play store showed that Holafly is “not available in your region”. The companies took prompt action in compliance with the DoT’s directives received on January 4.
The government’s decision to ban these apps arises after it was found that fraudsters were exploiting unauthorized eSIMs with international phone numbers to perpetrate cybercrimes and defraud unsuspecting citizens.
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Notably, providers of eSIM services, offering digital SIM cards for voice calls and internet data without requiring a physical SIM card, are required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the DoT. In contrast, other eSIM providers like Nomad eSIM and aloSIM remain accessible for users in India to download and use through these app stores.
