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New Delhi. The Government of India has taken a big decision to give a new framework to digital security. The Department of Telecommunications i.e. DoT has issued an order that now every new smartphone sold in India will come with Sanchar Sathi app. The special thing is that this app will be pre-installed in the phone and it cannot be removed. This app will also be installed in existing phones through mandatory update. This rule will be applicable on phones of all companies like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo.
This decision has come at a time when the government has recently ordered platforms like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram to make SIM linking mandatory. That is, the SIM with which your account is created should be active. Access to the app may be lost as soon as the SIM is changed and features like WhatsApp Web will auto logout every six hours.
Direct focus on smartphone companies
Now the government’s focus is directly on smartphone companies. DoT has said that all companies should preinstall Sanchar Saathi in new phones within the next 90 days and this app should be visible during setup only. Even in old devices which have already been manufactured and reached the market, it will have to be sent through mandatory update.
What did the government say?
The government has clearly said that this step is being taken under the telecom cyber security rules. Its purpose is to prevent phones with fake, duplicate or spoofed IMEI. DoT has warned that having the same IMEI present in multiple locations has become a serious security threat. This creates a major obstacle for the police and cyber agencies to reach the criminals.
India’s second hand smartphone market is very big and it is here that most incidents of fraud are reported. Stolen or blacklisted phones often end up in the second hand market. Communication partner helps in this. Through this app, the customer can check the IMEI before purchasing the phone whether it is blocked or not.
App was already available, now it has become mandatory
According to the government, Sanchar Sathi was already available and more than 50 lakh downloads have been made. Till September, 37.28 lakh stolen or lost phones were blocked through this platform and 22.76 lakh phones were also traced.
The biggest strength of the app is that it helps to block and locate stolen or lost phones using IMEI. Besides, it also directly attacks the fake phone market. The app not only does phone tracking but also provides the facility to report suspicious calls, fake messages and fraud on OTT messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
How Sanchar Saathi App works
- Every mobile has a unique IMEI number: this is a 15-digit ID that identifies your phone. Sanchar Saathi blocks or traces the phone with the help of this number.
- The app is linked to the government’s CEIR system: CEIR i.e. Central Equipment Identity Register. The database of the Government of India which contains the IMEI record of every phone used in the country. This locks the IMEI of a stolen or lost phone.
- When you lose your phone, you report it ‘Lost/Stolen’ in the app: As soon as you report, the app sends your complaint to the CEIR system. CEIR blocks that IMEI immediately. After being blocked, the phone cannot catch the network on any SIM.
- Police and telecom companies start tracing the phone: Whenever the IMEI of the phone appears on any network, the system captures its location (tower location). This helps in tracking the phone.
- Once found, you request ‘unblock’: Once the phone is found, the same IMEI can be reactivated through the app.
- You can check IMEI before buying second hand mobile: The app has ‘Know Your Mobile’ feature. As soon as you enter the IMEI, you can know whether the phone is stolen, whether it is blacklisted and whether it is legitimate or not.
Complaints about fraud calls, scam messages and WhatsApp fraud can also be lodged here: There is a ‘Report Fraud’ section in the app. In this you can immediately report any suspicious number, call, message or WhatsApp fraud. The report goes directly to the cyber unit of DoT and the concerned telecom company.
Change phone, change number… still tracking from the app continues: IMEI number does not change, even if you change the SIM or reset it. Therefore, thieves can get away with changing the IMEI of the phone, but DoT is now also working on making IMEI tamper-proof.
Emphasis on user security
The government says that the new rules will strengthen user security, reduce cyber fraud and make it easier to track the real identity of the mobile. These rules will be fully implemented in three months and companies will also have to submit compliance reports in four months.
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