DoT makes Sanchar Saathi app mandatory on all mobile phones in India

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it compulsory for all mobile phones manufactured or imported in India to come with the Sanchar Saathi application pre-installed, the Ministry of Communication said in a press release.

The directive requires that the app be clearly visible and accessible to users during the device’s first-time setup, and that its features cannot be disabled or restricted by manufacturers.

For devices already produced and currently circulating in sales channels across the country, manufacturers and importers have been instructed to push the Sanchar Saathi application through software updates.

As per the ministry, the directions issued on November 28 are aimed at helping citizens avoid non-genuine mobile devices, simplifying the reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources, and strengthening the overall impact of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.

The implementation must be completed within 90 days, while a compliance report is required to be submitted within 120 days.

The Sanchar Saathi initiative is part of the DoT’s larger effort to curb telecom resource misuse linked to cyber fraud and enhance telecom cybersecurity.

The Sanchar Saathi portal and app allow users to verify the authenticity of a mobile handset using its IMEI number and offer multiple services, including reporting suspected fraudulent communication, reporting lost or stolen phones, checking mobile connections registered under a user’s name, and accessing trusted contact details of banks or financial institutions.

The press release notes that the Telecommunication Cyber Security (TCS) Rules empower the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, requiring them to assist in cases involving tampered devices or IMEI numbers. These rules also mandate that manufacturers and importers comply with such directions issued by the government.

The DoT emphasised that mobile handsets with duplicate or spoofed IMEIs are a significant threat to telecom cybersecurity. Spoofed or tampered IMEIs can result in the same IMEI appearing on multiple devices simultaneously in different locations, complicating enforcement actions against such devices.

According to the press release, India has a sizeable second-hand mobile device market, where cases have been reported of stolen or blacklisted phones being resold. This not only exposes buyers to financial loss but may also make them unwitting abettors in crime. Users can check whether an IMEI is blocked or blacklisted using the Sanchar Saathi app.