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In a major push to tighten telecom security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the government’s Sanchar Saathi app on every new device sold in India. The app, which helps users report scam calls, identify fraudulent messages, and track lost or stolen phones, will soon become a non-removable system component on both new and existing smartphones.
The mandate follows closely on the heels of another sweeping regulation requiring messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram to link accounts to the SIM card used during registration. Under those rules, users switching SIMs risk losing access to the messaging app, and linked features like WhatsApp Web will automatically disconnect every six hours to prevent misuse.
Preinstallation Now Compulsory Across All Brands
According to the directive, companies including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and other major manufacturers must integrate Sanchar Saathi into all new units within 90 days. The app must be visible during the initial setup process and fully accessible, with its core functions locked to prevent removal or disabling.
The DoT has also instructed companies to push the app via software updates to devices already manufactured or awaiting sale. A compliance report will be required within 120 days of the announcement.
A ministry statement explained that the order aims to curb telecom fraud, restrict the circulation of counterfeit devices, and strengthen efforts to block stolen phones. The DoT stated that embedding the app into the system will “safeguard citizens from non-genuine handsets,” improve reporting of mobile misuse, and support the broader Sanchar Saathi initiative.
Rules Fall Under India’s Telecom Cyber Security Framework
The new mandate is backed by the Telecom Cyber Security (TCS) Rules, which authorise the government to issue direct instructions to manufacturers of devices with IMEI numbers. The DoT highlighted that duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, where several phones share the same identifier, pose a serious threat to national telecom security, making device tracking and law-enforcement efforts extremely challenging.
The second-hand smartphone market has also raised red flags, with stolen or blacklisted devices often resold to unsuspecting buyers. Using Sanchar Saathi, buyers can verify whether a device’s IMEI is blocked before making a purchase.
A Growing App With Proven Impact
Sanchar Saathi has been optional until now, and is available on both Android and iOS. However, it will soon become a compulsory system app on every smartphone in the country. The platform has already shown significant traction: launched in January, it crossed 50 lakh downloads by August. Government figures from September indicate that 37.28 lakh stolen or lost phones have been blocked through the service, while 22.76 lakh devices were successfully traced.
Beyond device tracking, Sanchar Saathi enables users to report suspicious calls, fraud attempts, spam messages and even threats received over platforms like WhatsApp, giving the government a single, centralised tool to combat mobile-based crime.
