NEW DELHI: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has welcomed the government's continued initiatives to strengthen digital security, enhance consumer protection and address the growing challenges of spam, scams, impersonation and cyber fraud across communication platforms.

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Dr S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI, said the government's efforts reflect its proactive approach towards safeguarding citizens and building a secure and trusted digital ecosystem under the Digital India vision.

He said that as communication services continue to expand across traditional telecom networks and internet-based platforms, ensuring consistent security safeguards and accountability throughout the digital communications ecosystem has become increasingly important.

Kochhar noted that licensed telecom operators have long been subject to stringent obligations relating to subscriber verification, traceability, security and cooperation with authorised agencies. However, the growing migration of communication services to internet-based platforms has created gaps between technologies and regulatory frameworks, which cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting.

He emphasised the need for a coordinated and technology-neutral approach to security and accountability, saying it would strengthen the government's efforts to combat cybercrime. COAI also called for a balanced regulatory framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of different stakeholders in proportion to their operational roles, technical capabilities and level of control.

According to the industry body, such a framework would support effective implementation of security measures while encouraging innovation and growth across the digital ecosystem.

Reiterating its support for the principle of ‘Same Service, Same Rules’, COAI said comparable communication services should be subject to consistent safeguards, particularly when they pose similar risks to consumers. The association maintained that “fraud follows the user, not the licence category”, underlining the need to address fraudulent activities across platforms rather than limiting regulatory attention to licensed telecom operators.

COAI said the government's recent initiatives mark an important beginning and expressed the expectation that further measures would ensure that spam, scams, impersonation and fraudulent communications are addressed consistently across telecom networks as well as app-based platforms.

As India's digital economy expands, the association said citizens must have confidence that security and accountability standards apply wherever they communicate. A more secure digital ecosystem, it added, would strengthen consumer trust, support innovation and advance the broader Digital India vision.