New Delhi, June 17: India on Wednesday banned import of
mobile phones that lack unique IMEI identification number,
which helps authorities track users.
"Import of `Mobile Handsets` without International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number or with all Zeroes IMEI is
prohibited with immediate effect," the Directorate General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
IMEI is a 15-digit code which appears on the operator`s
network whenever a call is made.
Mobiles phones without IMEI number are considered a grave
security threat and concerns had been raised over their usage
after terrorist attacks like the one in Mumbai in November
last year.
GSM service providers have already said that they would
deny connectivity to cellphones without IMEI number.
Concerned over the national security, the Department of
Telecommunications had earlier asked operators to disconnect
services to handset that does not have an IMEI number.
Bureau Report
