India and the UK have agreed to deepen partnership on digital fraud, artificial intelligence (AI) and telecom security. With this, both countries look to strengthen protection against increasingly cross-border digital risks.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the UK government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering AI, digital connectivity, digital fraud, digital trust and responsible technology-led innovation.
Also Read: Beyond OTP: 7 Ways to Mitigate Digital Fraud in 2026
India, UK Set Framework for Digital Fraud Cooperation
The Indian and UK telecom industry partnership will create a framework for sharing knowledge, learning and engagement on key digital fraud issues affecting both countries.
The agreement will also examine how telecom industries can use newer technologies and advances in AI to design, manage and secure networks. The wider aim is to support a more trusted and resilient digital ecosystem.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, who attended the event as chief guest, highlighted AI’s role in building smarter and more efficient networks. He also stressed responsible governance, human oversight, consumer protection and trust.
“Cooperation between telecom companies, technology firms, financial institutions and governments would be important in addressing emerging digital risks,” added Lahoti.
The UK High Commission said digital fraud is a growing form of transnational organised crime and requires closer coordination between governments and industry.
“Industry partners have a central role in protecting citizens, businesses and institutions as AI changes how communication networks are designed and secured,” said Ben Mellor, Acting British High Commissioner to India.
Also Read: India’s Cyber Fraud Surge Puts Focus on AI Security and Digital Identity Reform
UK Fraud Losses Highlight Scale of Cross-Border Threat
The agreement also supports the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) and UK-India Vision 2035, focusing on ensuring AI and other technological advances strengthen trust in digital services.
More than two-thirds of fraud cases in the UK have an international element, according to the statement cited in the report.
The UK government said fraud against individuals and businesses was the largest reported crime type in England and Wales and cost the economy £14.4 billion in 2023-24.
COAI Director General Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar said India’s next phase of connectivity needs to be intelligent, secure, resilient and citizen-centric. He said telecom networks would increasingly use AI to improve performance, security, service quality and consumer protection.
The CO.AI (Communications and AI) panel was the first formal collaboration between the UK and COAI. Representatives from TRAI, the Department of Telecommunications, Vodafone, Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel attended.
The MoU puts telecom operators at the centre of efforts to tackle digital fraud, linking AI adoption with network security, consumer protection and international cooperation. For the Indian and UK telecom industry, the immediate focus will be on sharing expertise and approaches to a problem that increasingly crosses national borders.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
