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From rank 127 to No 1 on App Store, Sanchar Saathi gains amid outrage

An app nobody noticed, until everyone did. Political heat and curiosity pushed it to the top in downloads. How long before the slide?

Unconstitutional: Congress slams mandatory Sanchar Saathi pre-installation

The Congress on Monday rejected the directions of the Department of Telecommunications on pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app in new mobile handsets as unconstitutional, and demanded its immediate rollback. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said that the right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty. Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT direction is beyond unconstitutional. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen, Venugopal said in a post on X. The move, he alleged, is part of the long series of "relentless assaults" on the Constitutional rights of Indian citizens, which will not be allowed to continue. We reject this direction and demand its immediate ...

DoT tightens fraud rules: Pre-install Sanchar Saathi, bind OTT apps to SIM

Telecom operators want SMS-based OTP to become the primary authentication layer for financial transactions as DoT moves to tighten security

DoT directs mandatory Sanchar Saathi pre-installation, SIM-binding rules

For old devices, DoT asks handset makers to 'push app through software update'

DoT de-licences 77-81 Ghz spectrum for cars to ease ADAS functionality

Short-range vehicle radar systems, widely used in automotive ADAS, that operate in the 77-81 GHz frequency range, have been exempted from the spectrum assignment rule by the telecom department, according to a gazette notification on Wednesday. The move is expected to ease the process for the development of autonomous vehicles in the country. However, for the exemption, radars will follow certain technical standards, including non-interference, non-protection and the frequencies will be shared, which means it will be non-exclusive for users. "No frequency assignment shall be required by any person to establish, maintain, work, possess or deal in any wireless equipment for the purpose of short-range automotive radar system in the 77 to 81 GHz frequency band on non-interference, non-protection and shared (non-exclusive) basis, and using the technical parameters...," the notification said. Many automotive players are offering ADAS ( advanced driver-assistance systems) as a premium feat

Tampering with mobile IMEI can lead to 3 years' jail, ₹50 lakh fine: DoT

Tampering with telecom identifiers, including the 15-digit IMEI number of mobile phones, are non-bailable offences and can lead to imprisonment of up to three years, fines up to Rs 50 lakh, or both, the Department of Telecom said on Monday. In an advisory issued to all manufacturers, brand owners, importers, and sellers, the Department of Telecom (DoT) asked them to comply fully with the laid legal framework. "The Telecommunications Act, 2023 imposes stringent penalties for tampering with telecommunication identifiers, including IMEI numbers... Penalties for violation include imprisonment for up to three years, fines up to Rs 50 lakh, or both," the advisory said. Tampering of telecom identifiers or International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) makes it challenging for law-enforcement agencies to track criminals. "To secure telecom networks and prevent counterfeit devices, the Government of India mandates strict regulations on International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) ...

Vodafone Idea expects long-term AGR resolution after Supreme Court ruling

Vodafone Idea CEO Abhijit Kishore said the telco is in talks with the DoT for next steps after the Supreme Court allowed reassessment of AGR dues up to FY17, paving the way for clarity on liabilities

Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea ask govt for entire 6GHz band

Say it will help fulfil vision of taking global lead in 6G

SC clarifies order allowing AGR dues re-examination to apply only to Vi

Supreme Court clarifies that its order allowing the Centre to re-examine AGR dues up to FY17 is limited to Vodafone Idea, ending ambiguity on inclusion of other telecom firms

Satellite internet players face higher fees as DoT proposes 5% AGR charge

Trai's extra ₹500 per urban subscriber plan rejected; DoT opts for 5 per cent adjusted gross revenue (AGR) fee for satellites, citing difficulty in monitoring rural-urban distinctions

DoT issues ₹7,800 cr demand notice to Tata Communications over AGR dues

The Department of Telecom has issued a "show-cause-cum-demand notice" of about Rs 7,800 crore to Tata Communications over adjusted gross revenue dues, according to an official note by the company. The demand has been raised by the Department of Telecom (DoT) for adjusted gross revenue (AGR) from 2005-06 till 2023-24, as per the note dated July 17. "As at June 30, 2025, the company has received 'Show Cause-cum Demand Notices' ('demand notices') from Department of Telecommunications of India aggregating to Rs 7,827.55 crore for financial years ranging from FY 2005-06 to FY 2023-24, which have been revised over a period of time," Tata Communications Managing Director AS Lakshminarayan said. He said the demand notices include Rs 276.68 crore towards disallowance of deductions claimed by the company on payment basis for the financial year (FY) 2010-11 under ISP (internet service provider) licence and FY07 and FY10 under NLD (national long distance) licence. Tata Communications has exist

Vi survival in doubt as govt rules out equity swap, plans payment relief

The Centre is working on a relief plan for Vi, including a longer AGR payment schedule, but remains firm on not raising its equity stake beyond 49 per cent due to viability and cash flow concerns

India to draft AI-native telecom rules, partners with ITU on 6G push

DoT officials say India is working with the ITU on research and standards for AI-native networks as it prepares for 6G and stakes a claim in global satcom policy

DoT seeks TRAI's views on pricing, modalities for multiple access bands

The telecom department has approached regulator TRAI seeking recommendations on reserve price, block size, quantum and other modalities for auction of mobile spectrum in eight existing bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz and 2,300 MHz, according to sources. Other bands where TRAI's views have been sought by the Department of Telecom (DoT) include 2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz and 2,6GHz bands, the sources told PTI. DoT has also urged the telecom regulator to offer fresh recommendations for auction of spectrum in 600 MHz bands. TRAI has also been asked to look at the possibility of auction for newly identified 6,425-6,725 MHz and 7,025-7,125 MHz bands for recommendations on auction timing, band plan, reserve price, and terms and conditions. In the last auction held in 2024, Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel had emerged as the biggest bidder for radio waves used to transmit mobile phone voice and data signals, cornering about 60 per cent of the Rs 11,341 crore worth of spectrum

Revenue-share model 2.0: Levy USO-like fee on OTTs, telcos tell DoT

LTGs take up a significant portion of the network bandwidth, the carriers claimed previously, while asking them to give a share of their revenues towards the infrastructure spend

India may soon get satellite data plans priced below ₹840 per month

Starlink and other satcom firms may launch services in India with unlimited data plans priced under ₹840/month, aiming rapid user growth despite high spectrum and licence fees

Deepali Gupta traces the India story through its mobile telephony tales

To understand today's telecom business, one must trace the evolution of the entrepreneurs who shaped it

MTNL shares up 7% after DoT approaches finance ministry to repay co's debt

MTNL shares rise 7 per cent after DoT once again approached the finance ministry seeking funds to repay the liabilities of the company

DoT once again knocks on finance ministry's door to repay MTNL debt

The total outstanding dues to the PSBs of MTNL is Rs 8,415.55 crore

DoT launches FRI tool to flag risky mobile numbers in cyber frauds

DoT introduces Financial Fraud Risk Indicator under DIP to help banks and UPI platforms detect risky mobile numbers and prevent cyber frauds more proactively