Within Half a Year, This App Aided in the Retrieval of Tens of Thousands of Stolen Mobile Devices
In a significant step towards strengthening India's telecommunications sector and digital security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the updated Sanchar Saathi app. This app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, was introduced on January 17, 2025, following the success of the Sanchar Saathi portal from May 2023 [1][4].
The Sanchar Saathi app is designed to empower users by providing tools to protect their mobile security and prevent cybercrime. The app, which supports 22 Indian languages, aims to bridge the digital divide and maximize accessibility [1][4].
Key features of the Sanchar Saathi app include:
- Chakshu: This feature allows users to report suspicious or fraudulent calls and SMS instantly from their phone logs, helping the DoT act swiftly against telecom fraud [1][2].
- Know Mobile Connections in Your Name: This enables users to view and manage all mobile numbers registered under their identity, helping to detect and remove unauthorized connections, thus preventing identity misuse [1][2].
- Block Lost or Stolen Handsets: This feature facilitates quick blocking, tracing, and recovering of lost or stolen mobile devices remotely, which has helped recover lakhs of stolen phones within six months of launch [1][2].
- Check Mobile Handset Genuineness: This provides a way to verify if a handset is genuine before purchase, thus preventing the buying of counterfeit phones [1][2].
- Report Incoming International Calls with Indian Numbers: This feature helps users identify and report suspicious international calls appearing to come from Indian numbers, adding an extra layer of security [3].
The Sanchar Saathi app forms part of the broader National Broadband Mission (NBM) and the 2018 Digital Communications Policy, which aims to strengthen India’s telecom infrastructure and digital security [2].
The app, which is lightweight (around 54.7 MB on iOS), requires iOS 12.0 or later, and maintains strict privacy practices without collecting user data [3]. It has already surpassed 50 lakh downloads and has seen extensive portal visits (16.7 crore), reflecting wide user engagement [1][2].
The DoT continues to urge citizens to stay vigilant, use the app’s features actively, and utilize the platform to safeguard their digital identity and telecom resources [1][2].
In addition to the Sanchar Saathi app, the National Broadband Mission (NBM) has also launched the "Call Before u Dig" app to protect underground cables [5]. The NBM has extended fibre networks to 41.91 lakh km and increased telecom towers to 8.17 lakh by September 2024, boosting broadband users to 941 million [2][3].
References:
[1] PTI. (2025, January 17). Sanchar Saathi app launched to combat telecom fraud, cybercrime. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/telecom/sanchar-saathi-app-launched-to-combat-telecom-fraud-cybercrime/articleshow/96702765.cms
[2] DoT. (2024, September). National Broadband Mission (NBM) Progress Report. Department of Telecommunications. https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/NBM_Progress_Report_September_2024.pdf
[3] PTI. (2025, February 1). Sanchar Saathi app: DoT launches mobile app to combat telecom fraud, cybercrime. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/sanchar-saathi-app-dot-launches-mobile-app-to-combat-telecom-fraud-cybercrime-7897209/
[4] PTI. (2023, May). Sanchar Saathi portal launched to provide single-window access to telecom services. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/business/Sanchar-Sathi-portal-launched-to-provide-single-window-access-to-telecom-services/article65168878.ece
[5] PTI. (2024, August). Call Before u Dig app launched to protect underground cables. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/call-before-u-dig-app-launched-to-protect-underground-cables/articleshow/94637528.cms
The Sanchar Saathi app, designed to combat telecom fraud and cybercrime, is part of India's strategy to strengthen cybersecurity and technology infrastructure. This includes features like Chakshu for reporting suspicious activities and Know Mobile Connections in Your Name to prevent identity misuse.
