• India has taken a significant leap in defence technology with the deployment of SAMBHAV, the country’s first fully indigenous secure mobile communication system.
• The system was prominently showcased during Operation Sindoor in 2025, where the Indian Army relied exclusively on SAMBHAV-enabled smartphones, replacing foreign applications and ensuring encrypted communication free from external surveillance.
• Launched in 2023, SAMBHAV is designed specifically for defence use, operating independently of commercial networks while supporting real-time connectivity through 5G-enabled devices.
• The system employs multi-layer encryption to protect against hostile surveillance and cyber-attacks. Its core application, M-Sigma, allows encrypted messaging, file sharing, and multimedia exchange, ensuring sensitive command and control messages remain confidential.
• During Operation Sindoor, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi confirmed that all foreign communication apps, including WhatsApp, were replaced by the homegrown M-Sigma app on SAMBHAV devices.
• This milestone demonstrates India’s commitment to technological sovereignty and robust digital security in defence operations.
• SAMBHAV’s network-agnostic design allows it to function securely across various communication infrastructures without compromising data integrity.