What Is Sanchar Saathi App? Why Govt Wants It Pre-Installed on Every Mobile Phone

New Delhi: In a new directive, mobile phones manufacturers in India or phones that will be imported from aboard should have a new pre-installed App called Sanchar Saathi, the government has said.The directive has been

issued by the Department of Telecom (DoT) asking manufactures, and importers to pre-install this fraud reporting App in all new devices within 90 days. The government in its order said, “The central government hereby directs every manufacturer and importer of mobile handsets that are intended for use in India…from 90 days of issue of these instructions, ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application, as specified by DoT, is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.”

What We Know About Sanchar Saathi App?

• DoT has developed the Sanchar Saathi portal and App, which enables citizens to check the genuineness of a mobile handset through the IMEI number, along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraudulent communications, lost or stolen mobile handsets, checking mobile connections in their name, and trusted contact details of banks or financial institutions.
• The App enables users to report International Mobile Equipment Identity number (IMEI)-related suspicious misuse and also to verify authenticity of IMEIs used in mobile devices.
• The Telecom subscribers can also report about fraudulent calls, lost mobile phones etc through the app.
• At present all the major mobile phone companies Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi etc manufacture their handsets in India.
• IMEIs in the telecom network lead to a situation where the same IMEI is working in different devices at different places simultaneously, and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs.
• According to the government, India has a large second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being resold. It makes the purchaser an abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them.
• The blocked or blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using the Sanchar Saathi App.
• The DoT is undertaking the Sanchar Saathi initiative to curb the misuse of telecom resources for cyber fraud and to ensure telecom cybersecurity.
• The rules also mandate that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules.
• Tampering with telecom identifiers, including the 15-digit IMEI number of mobile phones, are non-bailable offences and can lead to imprisonment of up to three years, fines up to Rs 50 lakh, or both under the Telecommunications Act 2023.
• The DoT has asked mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.
• The DoT direction said that action will be taken as per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024 and other application laws if the firms fail to comply.
• Last week, the Centre had also issued directions that would ensure app-based communication services, the likes of WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and others, are continuously linked to a user's active SIM card.
• It has directed that within 90 days, any web version of the app must automatically log users out at least once every six hours. Users can then sign in again by re-linking the device using a QR code.
• All players providing app-based communication services in India have been asked to submit compliance reports to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) within 120 days from issue of the directions.

According to DoT, the directions issued on November 28 aim to safeguard citizens from purchasing non-genuine mobile devices, enable easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.The directions mandate that the implementation be completed within 90 days, with manufacturers required to submit a compliance report within 120 days.With inputs from agencies