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India's Ministry of Telecommunications has ordered smartphone makers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, to pre-install the government-issued Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices, Reuters reports. According to the order, issued on November 28, the companies have 90 days to comply.
The app cannot be removed or disabled. Devices already in stock must receive the app via software updates. The directive was sent to companies privately and has not been officially published.
Sanchar Saathi allows users to report suspicious calls, check IMEI numbers, and block stolen devices through a central registry. Since its launch in January, the app has been downloaded over 5 million times and has helped block over 3.7 million stolen or lost phones.
The government said the app was needed to combat serious cybersecurity threats in the telecommunications sector related to the duplication or substitution of IMEI numbers.