The ‘Sambhav’ smartphones, intended for secure communication during high-level conversations, such as the recent border talks with China, were recently unveiled by the Indian Army. In October 2024, while negotiating with Chinese authorities, Army Chief Major General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized the strategic deployment of these devices, confirming this initiative during his yearly press conference.
Because the Sambhav devices run on 5G technology and have end-to-end encryption, military personnel may communicate securely.
Applications like M-Sigma, which works similarly to WhatsApp and enables users to safely communicate private documents, images, and videos, are pre-installed on the smartphones.
Officers have received about 30,000 devices, which include contact lists of key personnel integrated into the device to facilitate communication and eliminate the need for manual number storing.
These smartphones’ compatibility with major Indian telecom networks—Airtel and Jio in particular—improves their usability in a variety of settings.
The Sambhav project’s main goal is to reduce the possibility of data leaks, which have happened in the past when military personnel used commercial messaging apps. The Indian Army aims to improve operational efficiency across its ranks and protect sensitive information by offering a secure communication platform. This project supports the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaign, which aims to promote indigenous technology and self-reliance in defense capabilities.
With the introduction of ‘Sambhav’ smartphones, the Indian Army’s communication strategy has advanced significantly, especially in delicate diplomatic situations like border talks with China.
