Telecom operators have sought time till November 20 to implement the new digital system for subscriber registration and verification in place of the Aadhaar-based system. "...in order to ensure proper implementation and cause no inconvenience to the customers, we request that an additional period of 15 days, till November 20, 2018 be granted for the implementation of the new digital process," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews said in a letter to Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan on October 31.

The industry body has sought permission to continue with the existing Aadhaar-based electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) process.

The government on October 26 ordered telecom companies to stop using Aadhaar for electronic verification of existing mobile phone customers as well as for issuing new connections to comply with a recent Supreme Court order.

The apex court had in a landmark verdict restricted the use of Aadhaar by private entities in the absence of a legal provision.