The
Indian Army
has developed an "end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem" called
SAMBHAV
(Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version). The SAMBHAV mobile ecosystem is said to be aimed at offering secure communication with instant connectivity, even on the move, marking a "significant leap forward" in India's defense capabilities. Conventional capabilities are no longer the only measure of military prowess.
Both State and non-State actors are developing means to bridge conventional asymmetries across the world. Over the years, cyberspace has emerged as one of the "principle domains of hybrid warfare". This is said to present both opportunities and threats across the continuum of operations. This has resulted in the proliferation of networks and IT infrastructure in the Indian Army "increasing manifold".
The Indian Army has developed SAMBHAV in collaboration with leading academic and industry experts. Leveraging the potential of existing public cellular networks, SAMBHAV operates on
5G technology
. "5G-ready handsets using multi-tier encryption," an official told news agency PTI.
This initiative aligns with the Indian government's vision of "dual-use infrastructure" and "civil-military fusion" in technology. The initial rollout plans to deploy 35,000 sets in two phases, with 2,500 by January 15 and the remaining by May 31.
How SAMBHAV helps
"Mobile networks are prone to eavesdropping and therefore information security of mobiles is at risk of being compromised. An end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem which is network-agnostic has been developed to provide secure communication with instant connectivity on the move," the official added.
Command Cyber Operations Support Wings (CCOSWs), which are "special sub-units" to augment cyber capability, are being established. While cyber capability is being enhanced and integrated at all levels, CCOSWs will be functional at "operational and tactical levels". Report added that six CCOSWs are being established for all commands. The personnel will be given specialist training and undergo validation exercises.
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