Always-On Phone Tracking Proposal Under Govt Review; Apple, Samsung and Google Raise Concerns

As per news reports, India is contemplating a proposal for always-on phone location tracking, driven by telecom giants Airtel and Jio. This initiative aims to enhance precision in user location data, but it has raised significant privacy concerns. 

Telecom Lobby's Push for Precision 

The proposal for always-on, satellite-based location tracking originates from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing carriers like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.  

COAI urges the government to mandate activation of Assisted GPS (A-GPS) on all smartphones, enabling operators to provide more precise user coordinates when agencies request data, compared to the current coarser tower-based location. 

Rationale Behind Airtel and Jio's Advocacy 

Operators argue that they face criticism for inaccurate location data during investigations, even though network-based methods inherently have several metres of error.  

A device-level A-GPS mandate would shift the ecosystem towards handset-side precision, allowing Airtel, Jio, and others to comply with lawful requests using far more accurate coordinates while still routing such access through government orders. 

Implementation of the Proposed System 

Under the industry's proposal, smartphone makers would be required to keep A-GPS and related location services permanently enabled, with no option for users to switch them off.  

Airtel, Jio, and other operators would then be able to furnish near real-time location data derived from these always-on signals when directed by law enforcement or security agencies. 

Read More: India’s Active Mobile User Base Rises in October with Jio Leading Additions! 

Apple, Google, Samsung’s Concerns and Objections 

Handset and platform companies, including Apple, Google, and Samsung, have formally objected, warning that a telecom-driven, always-on tracking regime would be an unprecedented form of device-level surveillance.  

Their pushback has created a fault line between the network side (Airtel, Jio, and peers seeking regulatory clarity and better tools for compliance) and the device side (which fears privacy, security, and regulatory overreach risks). 

Current Status from a Telecom Perspective 

The government has not yet taken a final call and is still reviewing the COAI proposal, leaving operators in a limbo where they remain responsible for assisting investigations but without the mandated handset capabilities they are seeking.  

For Airtel, Jio, and other COAI members, the outcome will determine whether high-precision location compliance becomes a standardised, legally backed feature of India’s telecom ecosystem or remains constrained by today’s network-only limitations. 

Conclusion 

The proposal for always-on phone location tracking in India, driven by Airtel and Jio, highlights the ongoing debate between precision surveillance and privacy concerns. As the government reviews the COAI proposal, the telecom industry awaits a decision that could reshape location tracking standards in the country. 

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