India Tackles Fraud with New ITU Standards for Mobile Security
In a pivotal address at the ITU Roundtable on combating fraudulent communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, emphasized the urgent need for global cooperation in the fight against digital fraud. The event took place during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month in Yashobhoomi.
Dr. Pemmasani highlighted India’s remarkable achievement of connecting over a billion people under the Modi administration. However, he stressed that connectivity must now be accompanied by trust. He stated, “Fraud is a network problem. It needs a network answer. And because networks are global, the answer must also be global.” This statement underscores the increasing complexity of digital fraud that transcends national borders.
The minister outlined the alarming rise of cross-border fraud, including impersonation scams, digital arrest scams, AI-generated voice cloning, and deepfakes. According to reports, Indians lost over ₹22,800 crore to such fraudulent activities in 2024 alone. Dr. Pemmasani noted that India has learned valuable lessons from these challenges, leading to the development of a multi-layered defense system against fraud.
India’s Comprehensive Strategy
Dr. Pemmasani elaborated on India’s five-layered approach to tackling fraudulent communications. This includes:
- Real-time blocking of spoofed international calls.
- Fraudulent mobile connection identification using C-DOT’s AI-based ASTR tool.
- Encouraging citizen participation through the Sanchar Saathi app.
- Sharing intelligence through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP).
- Implementing measures addressing emerging channels of fraud.
The ASTR system has successfully disconnected over 82 lakh fraudulent connections, while the Sanchar Saathi app has achieved approximately 25 million downloads. The DIP connects over 1,600 organizations, including telecom operators, financial institutions, and law enforcement, playing a crucial role in preventing financial losses exceeding ₹5,000 crore in the last 15 months.
Emphasizing Global Standards
Recognizing the limitations of national solutions in tackling cross-border fraud, Dr. Pemmasani underscored the significance of ITU standards for digital verification of caller identities across international networks. He expressed support for the ITU’s proposal for joint trials among governments, regulators, operators, and technology firms, reiterating India’s preparedness to contribute.
The minister recommended initiating trials between participating countries on selected international routes, ensuring a variety of network technologies are involved, and integrating lessons learned into the ongoing enhancement of ITU standards. Dr. Pemmasani further pointed out that as 6G networks emerge, the concept of trust must be embedded right from the outset.
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