Ziraat Times Team Report
New Delhi: In a major move to curb the sale of counterfeit mobile phones and strengthen telecom cyber security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued new directions requiring mobile manufacturers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi mobile application on all devices meant for the Indian market.
The directive, issued on November 28 under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, mandates that the Sanchar Saathi app must be visible, functional and enabled for users during the very first device setup. Manufacturers have been instructed not to hide, disable, or restrict any of the app’s features.
Devices already manufactured and currently in retail channels must also receive the app through software updates “on a best-effort basis.” The implementation deadline is 90 days, and compliance reports must be submitted within 120 days.
Why Sanchar Saathi?
The Sanchar Saathi initiative, developed by DoT, is aimed at combating cyber fraud and preventing misuse of telecom resources. The app and portal allow citizens to:
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Verify the genuineness of mobile handsets using the IMEI number
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Report lost or stolen phones
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Check mobile connections issued in their name
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Report suspicious or fraudulent communication
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Access trusted contact details of banks and financial institutions
DoT notes that duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers pose a serious cyber-security threat, with instances of the same IMEI appearing across multiple devices. With a large second-hand device market in India, the app also helps users avoid inadvertently purchasing blacklisted or re-sold stolen phones.
How to Install the Sanchar Saathi App
Although the app will soon come pre-installed on all new mobile phones, existing users can download it directly:
For Android users:
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Open the Google Play Store
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Search for “Sanchar Saathi”
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Or download directly from:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dot.app.sancharsaathi
For iPhone (iOS) users:
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Open the Apple App Store
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Search for “Sanchar Saathi”
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Or download directly from:
https://apps.apple.com/app/sanchar-saathi/id6739700695
