Government to Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus and other smartphone companies: Make sure all phones launched have this app pre-installed
The government of India is reportedly mandating smartphone companies to ensure that all their smartphones come with the official cyber security app. According to a report in Reuters, telecom ministry has privately asked smartphone makers to preload all new devices with a state-owned cyber security app that cannot be deleted. The report claims to quote a government order that Reuters says it has seen. The government cyber security app that Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus and other smartphone companies have been told to pre-install is: Sanchar Saathi app. The government order, dated November 28, gives major smartphone companies 90 days to ensure that the government’s Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on new mobile phones, with a provision that users cannot disable it. For devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones via software updates, the telecom ministry reportedly said in its order. The report says that has not been made public as yet and was sent privately to select companies. The government says that the app helps prevent cyber threats and assists tracking and blocking of lost or stolen phones, helping police to trace devices, while keeping counterfeits out of the black market.
What is Sanchar Saathi app
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) introduced the Sanchar Saathi mobile app in January 2025. According to telecom department, the citizen-centric tool brings robust security features and fraud-reporting capabilities directly to users’ smartphones. The app complements the existing Sanchar Saathi portal by providing convenient, on-the-go protection against identity theft, forged KYC, device theft, banking fraud, and other cyber risks. Sanchar Saathi app is mainly designed to help users block and track lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks, using a central registry. It also lets them identify, and disconnect, fraudulent mobile connections. As per government data, since its launch on January 17, 2025, the Sanchar Saathi mobile app has crossed 50 lakh downloads as on August 2025. Over 37.28 lakh stolen/lost mobile devices have been successfully blocked and more than 22.76 lakh devices have been traced from the Sanchar Saathi LIVE dashboard.One of the world’s largest telephone markets, India has more than 1.2 billion subscribers. As per government figures, the app has helped recover more than 700,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in October alone. With more than 5 million downloads since its launch, the app has helped block more than 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones, while more than 30 million fraudulent connections have also been terminated. The app is available in Hindi and 21 other regional languages, making it inclusive and accessible across the country.
