- The Indian telecommunications ministry has ordered major phone makers to preinstall the government-backed Cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi on all new devices within 90 days.
- The app cannot be deleted or disabled and helps users report fraud, spam, block stolen devices, and detect suspicious telecom activity.
- Sanchar Saathi can identify international calls disguised with India‘s +91 country code to prevent telecom fraud affecting national security.
- Since May 2023, the app has been installed over 11 million times and facilitated the blocking and recovery of millions of lost devices.
- The directive also requires the app to be pushed via software updates to phones already in supply chains to combat telecom threats like spoofed IMEI numbers.
India’s telecommunications ministry has mandated that major mobile manufacturers preload the government-supported cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi on all new phones within the next 90 days. The app will be non-removable, ensuring it remains active on users’ devices. This step aims to strengthen telecom cybersecurity.
Available for Android, iOS, and web use, Sanchar Saathi allows users to report suspected fraud, spam calls, and malicious links received through calls, SMS, or WhatsApp. The app also helps block stolen handsets and lets subscribers verify the number of mobile connections registered under their name. A significant feature enables reporting of incoming international calls that use India’s country code +91, which often originate from illegal telecom setups fraudulently mimicking domestic calls. According to the government, “Such international calls are received by illegal telecom setups over the internet from foreign countries and sent to Indian citizens disguised as domestic calls.” Reporting these calls aids authorities in acting against illegal exchanges that cause financial losses and threaten national security.
Since its launch in May 2023, the app has been downloaded over 11.4 million times, mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The platform has blocked more than 4.2 million lost devices, tracked 2.6 million, and aided the recovery of over 720,000 devices. The new directive dated November 28, 2025, also instructs manufacturers to update phones already in supply chains with the app. This move attempts to combat telecom cybersecurity threats such as spoofed International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, unique identifiers that can be falsified to execute scams or misuse networks.
The directive follows a similar approach seen in Russia, where the government mandated the preinstallation of the state-backed messenger app MAX on all new devices starting September 2025. Russian officials have imposed partial restrictions on voice and video calls in popular messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, citing their use in criminal activities. According to authorities, WhatsApp has allegedly been used for terrorism organization, recruitment, fraud, and other crimes against Russian citizens. Data from October 2025 shows access to Telegram and WhatsApp is restricted in about 40% of Russian regions, with the state communications watchdog proposing a full block of WhatsApp if it does not comply with Russian law.
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