In a major push to enhance digital security and protect millions of mobile users, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a directive making it mandatory for all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cyber security application on every new smartphone sold in India. The move comes amid rising concerns over cyber fraud, fake IMEI rackets, and mobile phone theft across the country.
According to the order, manufacturers must integrate the Sanchar Saathi app at the production stage, and once installed, the application cannot be deleted or uninstalled by the user under any circumstances. Companies have been given 90 days to fully implement the mandate.
DoT officials confirmed that older smartphones will also receive the application via software updates, ensuring that existing mobile users are not left out of the new security framework.
Aimed at Tackling Fraud, Fake IMEI Numbers & Phone Theft
The Sanchar Saathi platform is expected to play a critical role in combating several long-standing issues:
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Fake IMEI number scams, which allow criminals to mask the identity of handsets
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Cyber fraud, including SIM swapping and unauthorized access
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Mobile theft, which remains a major problem in urban and rural regions alike
Manufacturers have been instructed to strictly follow the updated guidelines and submit a compliance report within 120 days. Officials say the standardization of this system across all smartphone brands will create a unified security ecosystem in India’s telecom network.
What Is Sanchar Saathi?
Sanchar Saathi is a government-developed cybersecurity platform launched by the DoT to enhance user protection. It comes with key features such as:
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CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Registry) for tracking lost or stolen phones
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IMEI verification tools to detect cloned or fraudulent devices
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Blocking and unblocking stolen phones across all telecom operators
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User identity management to prevent misuse of SIM cards
As per official data, Sanchar Saathi has already helped recover over 7 lakh stolen or lost mobile devices, highlighting its strong potential in crime prevention.
A Major Step in India’s Digital Safety Roadmap
With smartphones becoming integral to banking, online payments, and personal communication, strengthening cyber safety has become a national priority. The mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi represents a significant shift in India’s digital governance model, ensuring that every smartphone user—regardless of brand or price segment—gets access to essential security tools from day one.
Experts believe this measure will greatly enhance India’s resilience against cybercrime, reduce phone theft incidents, and help law enforcement trace criminal networks involved in illegal IMEI manipulation.
Authorities say that once fully implemented, the initiative will mark one of India’s largest cybersecurity deployments in the consumer tech space.
