What is Sanchar Saathi app?

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets to ensure that Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed in all new devices within 90 days.

• The DoT is undertaking Sanchar Saathi initiative for curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cybersecurity. 

• The Opposition has criticised the directions of the DoT as “unconstitutional”, and demanded its immediate rollback. 

Sanchar Saathi app

• DoT has developed Sanchar Saathi portal and app which enables citizens to check genuineness of a mobile handset through the International Mobile Equipment Identity  (IMEI) number along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraud communications, lost/stolen mobile handsets, check mobile connections in their name, trusted contact details of banks/ financial institutions.

• The app enables users to report IMEI-related suspicious misuse and also to verify authenticity of IMEIs used in mobile devices.

• 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 blocked/blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using the Sanchar Saathi app.

Why govt bats for pre-installation of the app?

• Telecommunication Cyber Security (TCS) Rules, 2024 empowers the central government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing IMEI number to

provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number.

• The Rules also mandates 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.

• Mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI pose serious endangerment to telecom cybersecurity. 

• Spoofed/tampered IMEIs in telecom networks lead to situations where the same IMEI is working in different devices at different places simultaneously and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs. 

• India has a big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold. 

• It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them.