The extension will be “good news” also for consumers as it will provide them more time for compliance.

The extension of deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile connections to March 31, 2018, provides an immediate relief to both telecom operators and consumers, industry body Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) said on Friday.

“We are pleased that the timeline has been extended. We were facing challenges in complying with the earlier deadline given the volume (of telecom subscribers),” COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI.

The extension will be “good news” also for consumers as it will provide them more time for compliance.

The Supreme Court on Friday extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with various schemes and welfare measures, up to March 31 next year.

The deadline of February 6, 2018, for linking the biometric identifier with mobile connections also stands extended up to March 31, 2018.

Mr. Mathews said the COAI will be in constant touch with the telecom department on nuances of compliance with the March 31 deadline.