By Admin 
The Department of Telecommunications has directed mobile handset manufacturers and importers to ensure that fraud reporting app ‘Sanchar Sathi’ is pre-installed in all new devices within 90 days. According to the November 28 directive, it will be mandatory for all mobile phones manufactured or imported into India after 90 days from the date of issue of the order to have this app.
Now politics has started on this. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reacted to the government’s new instructions regarding Sanchar Sathi app. He said it was absolutely ridiculous. This is another method of monitoring under the guise of pre-installed apps. This means that all activities done through mobile phones can be tracked. Privacy is our right and this is the only thing you are attacking. We are demanding a grievance redressal system but instead, you are working on a monitoring system. Why do you have this uncontrollable desire to control and monitor people? We will strongly oppose this.
What is in the order of Sanchar Saathi?
The order said, ‘The Central Government directs every manufacturer and importer of mobile handsets for use in India… to ensure, within 90 days of the issue of these directions, that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application, as specified by the Department of Telecommunications, is pre-installed in all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.’
For all such devices that have already been manufactured and are in the sales phase in India, mobile handset manufacturers and importers will be required to take steps to get the app ‘installed’ through a software update.
The instructions said, ‘All manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets used in India shall submit a compliance report to the Department of Telecommunications within 120 days of the issue of these instructions.’
This app enables users to report suspected misuse related to the International Mobile Equipment Identification Number (IMEI) and verify the authenticity of the IMEI used in mobile devices.
It is also possible to report lost mobile phones etc…
Tampering with telecom identity documents, including the 15-digit imei number of a mobile phone, is a non-bailable offense and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, fine up to Rs 50 lakh, or both, under the Telecom Act 2023.
Telecom customers can also report fraudulent calls, lost mobile phones etc. through the app.
The DoT has asked mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is easily visible and accessible to end users at the time of first use or device setup.
The Department of Telecommunications’ directive states that if companies fail to comply with the rules, action will be taken as per the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 2023, Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024 and other appropriate laws.