Following India's DoC (Deportment of Telecom) request for telecom operators to disconnect services to mobile phones without an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number by April 15, the government of India has finally imposed the ban on imports of all mobile phones lack of the 15-digit IMEI number for security reasons on June 30, the Hindu reported on July 5. The 15-digit IMEI number can help security agencies track mobile phones. Additionally, all local operators would have to stop providing services to users who own mobile phones lacking IMEI numbers by the deadline.

 

Before the deadline, there were nearly 25 million mobile phones without such number operating in India, mostly manufactured in China or Taiwan and supplied from grey markets. For these mobile phones to continue functioning, users would have to upload a software developed by COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) and Mobile Standards Alliance of India before June 30 or otherwise would face service disconnection, according to the same source.