India welcomes ITU proposal for joint trials to combat cross-border telecom fraud: MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
On 9 October 2026 at an ITU roundtable on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress 2026, MoS Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani welcomed ITU’s proposal for joint trials against fraudulent communications and cited India’s ASTR tool disconnecting over 82 lakh fraudulent connections and Sanchar Saathi’s about 25 million downloads.
Summary
Speaking at the ITU Roundtable on implementing ITU standards to combat fraudulent communications during IMC 2026 at Yashobhoomi, MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said fraud needs a global network answer. He outlined India’s layered approach including real-time blocking of spoofed international calls, C-DOT’s AI-based ASTR tool (over 82 lakh fraudulent connections disconnected), Sanchar Saathi (~25 million downloads), the Digital Intelligence Platform linking over 1,600 organisations, and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator that helped prevent suspected losses exceeding ₹5,000 crore in 15 months. He noted Indians lost over ₹22,800 crore to such fraud in 2024 and affirmed India’s readiness for ITU joint trials on selected international routes.
Key facts
- Forum
- ITU Roundtable at IMC 2026, Yashobhoomi
- ASTR impact
- Over 82 lakh fraudulent mobile connections disconnected
- Sanchar Saathi
- Around 25 million downloads
- FFRI impact
- Prevented suspected losses >₹5,000 crore in 15 months
- 2024 fraud losses cited
- Over ₹22,800 crore
Practice MCQs 2 questions
As cited by MoS Pemmasani on 9 October 2026, roughly how many fraudulent mobile connections had ASTR helped disconnect?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 82 lakh
According to the 9 October 2026 PIB release, the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator helped prevent suspected losses exceeding what amount over 15 months?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹5,000 crore