A significant regulatory update from the Indian government mandates that all new mobile handsets manufactured or imported for the Indian market must come equipped with the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application pre-installed. This strategic decision by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is aimed at enhancing citizen security and curbing the proliferation of cyber fraud. The ‘Sanchar Saathi’ platform is being leveraged to provide users with direct access to reporting mechanisms for suspected telecom resource misuse and to ensure they are purchasing genuine devices. Compliance with this mandate is expected within 90 days, with a subsequent 120-day period for reporting. The guidelines stipulate that the pre-installed app must be easily discoverable and fully operational during the initial device setup. Manufacturers will also endeavor to provide the app to devices already in the sales channel via software updates. The Sanchar Saathi app boasts several key features, including the ability to verify a phone’s genuineness using its IMEI, report fraudulent communications, manage lost or stolen handsets, and retrieve contact details for banks and financial institutions. This initiative is crucial for strengthening India’s telecom cybersecurity infrastructure and preventing sophisticated cyber fraud operations.
