The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for mobile phone manufacturers to register the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) – the 15-digit numbers that uniquely identify each mobile device – of all handsets made in India with the government. Importers, too, will have to register with the government the IMEI number of each phone before importing it.
How is the DoT mandating these changes?
In a gazette notification Monday (September 26) amending the prevention of tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017, the DoT said, “The manufacturer shall register the international mobile equipment identity number of every mobile phone manufactured in India with the Indian Counterfeit Device Restriction portal of the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications prior to the first sale of the mobile phone”.
It added that the IMEI number of mobile phones imported in India for sale, testing, research or “any other purpose” will also have to be registered on the same government portal “prior to the import of the mobile phone into the country”.
What is the IMEI number, and its function?
The IMEI is a unique number that is used to identify a device on a mobile network. It has 15 digits and is like a phone’s unique identity. The number is used to verify the identity of a device when a user uses the Internet or places a call through it. Phones with a dual-SIM option have two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM. The IMEI number can help network providers track down a device in case it gets stolen or is lost. Once such loss or theft is reported, the carriers can deny the device access to the cellular network even with a new SIM card.
Why the increased scrutiny on IMEI numbers?
In a bid to curtail the rampant cloning and theft of mobile phones, the Communications Ministry had earlier rolled out a Central Equipment Identity Register. The identity register categorizes mobile phones based on their IMEI status in three lists – white, gray and black. Mobile phones with IMEI numbers on the white list are permitted for use, while those on the blacklist are the ones that are reported stolen or lost and are not allowed to access the network. Devices with IMEI numbers in the graylist do not conform to standards but are allowed to connect under supervision. The register also allows the DoT to carry out IMEI-based “lawful interception”.
In 2017, the government had notified rules to prevent tampering with IMEI numbers of phones by making it a punishable offense which could also attract a jail term. The DoT had announced its plan to implement this project in July 2017 and a pilot was conducted in Maharashtra. “The theft and cloning of mobile phones have become a serious problem. The theft of mobile phones is not just a financial loss but also a threat to the personal life of the citizens as well as national security. Counterfeit mobile phones in the market are another issue for DoT. A substantial number of counterfeit mobile phones are active in our mobile networks with fake IMEI numbers,” a DoT office memorandum at the time had stated.
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