The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on November 28 issued a directive requiring the Sanchar Saathi app to be pre-installed on every mobile phone manufactured or imported for sale in India. The app must be prominently visible and fully functional right from the first-time device setup, and manufacturers are prohibited from hiding, disabling, or restricting any of its features.
Companies have 90 days to ensure compliance on all new devices and 120 days to submit a compliance report. For phones already in retail channels or with consumers, the app must be delivered through mandatory software updates. The initiative aims to help users verify the authenticity of their devices and curb misuse of telecom services.
WHAT SANCHAR SAATHI DOES
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric initiative designed to combat cyber fraud and strengthen telecom security. Through its portal and app, users can:
- Check whether a mobile handset is genuine using its IMEI number
- Report suspected fraud calls or messages
- Report lost or stolen phones
- See all mobile connections issued in their name
- Access trusted contact details for banks and financial institutions
The initiative is backed by Telecom Cyber Security (TCS) Rules, which empower the government to issue IMEI-related compliance directions to manufacturers.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a warning that duplicate or cloned IMEIs represent a major security threat, particularly when the same IMEI is active on multiple devices simultaneously. In India’s vast second-hand smartphone market, stolen or blacklisted phones are often resold, which can unknowingly drag innocent buyers into criminal investigations.
The government’s Sanchar Saathi portal enables users to verify if an IMEI is reported as lost, stolen, or blacklisted before purchasing a used phone.
Under the Telecommunications Act 2023, tampering with telecom identifiers — including changing or cloning a mobile phone’s 15-digit IMEI — is a non-bailable offence punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both.
The new directive applies to all leading smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, most of which already produce devices in India. The Sanchar Saathi app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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