Smartphone makers in India, like Realme, Xiaomi have requested the government to tag phones as an essential commodity.

To bring their sales back to normal, these top smartphone makers have appealed to the authorities to let them deliver phones via e-commerce platforms amid the 21 days lockdown.

For this purpose, Industry bodies Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT) and India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) have written to the government.

In the drafted letters, requests have been made to enlist phones as essential item and removal of restrictions on the movement of components for inland and export purposes.

Managing Director of Xiaomi (Indian subcontinent), Manu Kumar Jain said,

“We can increase social distancing and reduce the number of people going out if everyone is using a smartphone.”

CEO of Realme, Madhav Sheth named smartphones as a ‘gateway to other services’, which could be invaluable during this lockdown.

Madhav Sheth also said, the government should let them open certain service centers, as they have been receiving multiple requests from customers.

“We are seeing a lot of requests on Twitter from people who say their phones have been damaged and need devices because they’re using them as Wi-Fi hotspots and for communications.”