The Indian government has issued a significant directive to smartphone manufacturers, requiring them to preinstall its official cybersecurity application, Sanchar Saathi, on all new devices sold in the country. According to information obtained by The Indian Express, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has stipulated that users should not be able to delete the application from their phones.
Three-Month Deadline and Industry Pushback
The directive, communicated to companies in early December 2025, gives smartphone makers a three-month window to comply. However, industry executives anticipate that major brands will push back against the mandate. The order impacts all major players in the Indian market, including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo.
As of early December, queries sent by the publication to the DoT and the affected smartphone companies had not received a response. The mandate extends beyond new devices; manufacturers must also issue a software update to phones already sold to make the Sanchar Saathi application available on them.
Part of a Broader Cybersecurity Crackdown
A senior government official stated that this move is a key component of a larger strategy to "strengthen cybersecurity and anti-spam measures." This strategy includes a recent DoT order to messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to implement SIM binding. This new rule will prevent these apps from functioning without the original registered SIM card in the device and will log users out of companion web services like WhatsApp Web every six hours.
Currently, the Sanchar Saathi app is voluntarily available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. If the directive is enforced, this choice will be removed, and the app will become a permanent fixture on every smartphone.
App's Track Record and Functionality
Launched in January 2025, the Sanchar Saathi app had crossed 50 lakh (5 million) downloads by August. Official data from a September press release highlights its effectiveness: over 37.28 lakh lost or stolen devices were blocked using the app, and more than 22.76 lakh devices were traced.
The app's core function is to track and block lost or stolen mobile phones across India using the device's unique 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This not only aids individual users but also assists police in recovering devices and curbing the black market for counterfeit phones.
Additionally, the app provides a direct channel for users to report suspected fraudulent communications received via calls, SMS, or messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
The government's twin directives on SIM binding for messaging apps and mandatory preinstallation of Sanchar Saathi signal a decisive shift towards a more controlled digital security environment. The coming months will reveal how smartphone manufacturers respond to this unprecedented mandate and its implications for consumer choice and cybersecurity in India.
