The Centre has directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every new handset sold in India, marking one of the most significant consumer-protection pushes in the telecom sector in recent years. The order, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on 28 November, aims to curb cyber fraud, improve device authenticity checks and make it easier for citizens to track and block lost or stolen phones.
The instruction has been privately communicated to major companies including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and OnePlus, with firms given 90 days to comply and 120 days to submit detailed implementation reports. All new devices must carry the app at first boot, and the app’s core features cannot be disabled, restricted or removed.
The government has linked the decision to rising cases of identity theft, digital arrest scams and mobile-based financial fraud.
Why the government wants Sanchar Saathi on every phone?
The Sanchar Saathi platform, developed by the DoT, already allows users to check whether a handset’s IMEI number is genuine, report suspicious calls or messages, block stolen devices and identify all mobile connections linked to their name. Officials say duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers have become a serious cyber-security risk.
By ensuring the app is installed on every new handset, the government hopes to create a single, universal tool to help citizens verify devices, report fraud quickly and assist enforcement agencies during investigations.
Existing phones to get the app via software updates
The DoT has also told manufacturers and importers to make a “best effort” to push the Sanchar Saathi app to devices already in the sales pipeline. Where possible, the app will be bundled in future software updates so that users of older phones can access the service without downloading it manually.
The government has made it clear that the app must be clearly visible and accessible during the first device setup. It cannot be hidden in menus or pre-disabled – an issue that has previously come up with other system apps.
Cyber-fraud concerns driving parallel action
The directive comes alongside a broader push to tighten cyber-security norms across app-based services. The DoT has separately issued instructions to major messaging platforms – including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat and Signal – after it found that some services allowed accounts to remain active even when the SIM linked to the number was removed from the device.
Officials said this loophole was being used to operate scam calls and messages from overseas, while appearing to be local numbers. The new rules, issued under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, focus on preventing the misuse of Indian mobile identifiers.
A growing push for telecom safety
With the rise of digital payments, second-hand mobile sales and app-based communication, the DoT says protecting device authenticity has become critical. The Sanchar Saathi system has already helped block thousands of stolen phones, according to officials familiar with the project.
The wider implementation marks the next phase of the government’s effort to build a tamper-proof telecom ecosystem, where mobile identities are harder to misuse and fraud reporting becomes immediate and uniform across the country.
Doonited Affiliated: Syndicate News Hunt
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