Lava International, India’s homegrown mobile phone manufacturer, has announced the integration of the PhonePe application with UPI payment capabilities across its feature phone portfolio, bringing digital payments to consumers without requiring a data connection.
The UPI facility is powered by the 123PAY technology of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which enables users to access digital payment services through feature phones without mobile data or an internet connection.
The integration will allow users to make digital transactions, check account balances and transfer money to contacts directly through their feature phones.
The PhonePe application will initially be launched with the Lava A7 Torch (2026) and Lava A2 Smart, both priced below ₹2,000. Lava plans to extend the integration across other feature phone series in its portfolio.
The initiative is aimed at widening access to digital financial services and helping bridge the digital divide among consumers who continue to use feature phones.
Bringing UPI to 250 million feature phone users
Lava International Ltd’s Sumit Singh said the large base of feature phone users in India represents a significant opportunity to democratise access to technology.
“India has over 250 million feature phone users, which makes it a very big market. Catering to this audience with technological innovations that enhance their living standards, bridges the digital divide by massifying benefits of technology and empowering users with new-age, modern experiences has been an integral part of our feature phone roadmap,” he said.
Singh added that Lava has been consistently investing in AI and other concepts aimed at making technological innovations accessible to a wider section of society.
“This is the feature phone of the new India and I am certain this feature will be well accepted, and we shall continue with our vision to empower Lava users across product portfolio,” he said.
Digital payments without internet
Built on NPCI’s UPI 123PAY technology, the service uses SMS-based connectivity to enable digital payments on compatible feature phones.
Users can register their bank account, set up a UPI PIN and make payments through their feature phones. The service also supports other UPI-enabled functions, including checking account balances and transferring money.
The integration is particularly aimed at consumers who may not own smartphones or have regular access to mobile internet, potentially expanding the reach of digital payment services beyond the smartphone ecosystem.
Lava said the initiative reflects its focus on developing technology solutions relevant to the evolving needs of Indian consumers and expanding access to digital services across diverse consumer segments.
The company’s feature phone portfolio includes models and series such as Hero Shakti, A1 Josh, A1 Tejas, A3 King, A3 Torch, Gem and Action 4G.