Human Mobile Devices (HMD) became the first smartphone manufacturer to offer consumers the option to install the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) Sanchar Saathi application on a handset, integrating it into its Vibe 2 5G model as an optional feature to enhance user privacy and safety.
The company clarified that the application will not be pre-installed or made mandatory.
The DoT had in December 2025 withdrawn an earlier directive requiring mandatory pre-installation of the cyber safety application on every smartphone sold in India, following strong opposition from technology and handset manufacturers. Union minister of communications had also previously said that users are free to delete the application and that it will remain dormant until they choose to register on it.
Further, Chinese smartphone brands Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Realme, as well as South Korean Samsung, homegrown Lava and Apple are yet to announce whether they will offer Sanchar Saathi as an optional application on their devices.
