Department of Telecommunications

March 21, 2025 10:38 PM

Telecom fraud: DoT disconnects over 3.4 cr mobiles, blocks 17 lakh WhatsApp accounts

In an effort to combat telecom fraud, the government on Friday said it has disconnected more than 3.4 crore mobile phones while blocking 3.19 lakh IMEI numbers to date through the Sanchar Saathi portal. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said that with the help of AI and Big Data, it also disengaged 16.97 lakh WhatsApp accounts. Over 20,000 bulk SMS senders were also blacklisted as part of DoT's ‘Sanchar Saathi’ initiative, said Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for C...

March 17, 2025 11:06 PM

Centre joins WhatsApp to curb digital frauds, cyber threats

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday collaborated with WhatsApp to extend ‘Scam Se Bacho,’ Meta’s safety campaign against online scams and spam. As part of the collaboration, DoT and WhatsApp will work together to educate citizens on identifying and reporting suspected fraudulent communications to enhance digital safety and awareness. The initiative will include train-the-trainer workshops for DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), and field unit...

March 17, 2025 12:18 PM

DoT announces launch of the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday announced the launch of the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month initiative aimed at developing advanced 5G-powered solutions to address key societal and industrial challenges. Open to students, startups, and professionals, the hackathon offers mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs, enabling participants to transform visionary ideas into scalable technologies. The initiative encourages innovation in critical 5G ap...

March 4, 2025 3:53 PM

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells successfully demonstrated as backup for telecom towers

In a significant step toward cleaner energy in India's telecom sector, hydrogen-powered fuel cells have been successfully demonstrated as a reliable backup power solution for telecom towers, according to the Ministry of Science & Technology. Developed by the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (CFCT) at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, the Proton Exchange Membrane ...

September 2, 2024 5:06 PM

DoT notifies new rules for ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ to boost telecom access nationwide

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the 'Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024'. These new rules aim to enhance the management and implementation of the 'Digital Bharat Nidhi' initiative, established under Section 24(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The Universal Service Obligation Fund, originally created under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, has been renamed as 'Digital Bharat Nidhi'. This rebranding reflects a shift towards addre...

September 16, 2024 6:43 PM

DoT launches initiative to help MSMEs, startups embrace new technologies

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a comprehensive survey to identify and address the challenges faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in adapting to new technologies. The survey aims to lay the groundwork for a robust ecosystem that leverage the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and the integration of 5G and 6G networks. The 60-day survey will cover five sectors each in North and South India. It is de...

September 16, 2024 6:16 PM

Relief from fake international phone calls soon, govt issues instructions

In a move to curb widespread cyber fraud targeting citizens, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued new directives to telecom service providers to block malicious international calls that appear to come from Indian mobile numbers. The order comes in the wake of a surge in reports of fraudsters making international calls to Indians while displaying local mobile numbers through caller ID spoofing. This tactic has enabled scammers to impersonate government agencies, law enforcement,...