"Industry partners are central to protecting citizens"
The UK and India have joined forces to tackle digital fraud, with both countries’ telecoms industries agreeing to share expertise and develop new approaches to online security.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed on September 14, 2026.
The agreement creates a framework for sharing knowledge and expertise on digital fraud affecting both countries.
It will also explore how telecommunications companies can use new technologies, including AI, to strengthen network security and protect consumers.
Digital fraud is a growing transnational organised crime, with more than two-thirds of fraud cases in the UK having an international element.
The UK and Indian industries will therefore work together to improve fraud resilience and support a safer digital environment, bringing together experts from government and telecommunications.
Ben Mellor, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said:
“We are living through an extraordinary period of technological change, with AI transforming the way communication networks are designed and secured.
“Industry partners are central to protecting citizens, business and institutions from nefarious actors who may cause them harm.
“That’s why close collaboration between governments and industry, and in forums such as these, is so important.
“The MoU we’ve signed today reflects the UK’s and India’s shared commitment to address emerging challenges at the intersection of telecommunications and digital security.”
The partnership supports the commitments made under the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) and UK-India Vision 2035.
Both initiatives aim to ensure technological innovation, including the development and adoption of AI, strengthens trust in digital services rather than creating new risks.
The agreement was announced alongside a Communications and AI panel discussion, which marked the first formal collaboration between the UK and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
Representatives from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Department of Telecommunications, Vodafone, Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel attended the event alongside officials from the British High Commission and the Indian Government.
Lieutenant General Dr SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, said:
“For India, the next phase of connectivity must be intelligent, secure, resilient and citizen-centric.”
“Telecom networks will not only support AI workloads; they will increasingly become AI-enabled systems capable of optimising performance, strengthening security, improving service quality and protecting consumers from emerging digital risks.
“The MoU between COAI and the British High Commission reflects the importance of trusted international collaboration in shaping the future of digital connectivity.”
Fraud against individuals and businesses is the largest reported crime type in England and Wales, costing the economy £14.4 billion in 2023 to 2024.
The UK Government has committed more than £250 million between 2026 and 2029 to deliver a new Fraud Strategy targeting fraud against individuals and businesses.
As part of this work, the Online Crime Centre launched in April 2026 to bring together specialists from government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and major technology companies.
The UK is also developing a Telecoms Fraud Charter to encourage the use of AI by industry to combat fraud, alongside a new Report Fraud service.
