Mobile phones import ban not China-specific.

NEW DELHI: The decision to ban procurement of mobile phones is not aimed at China alone, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said.

“While we encourage trade we are also mindful of our security issues,” Sharma told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here on Monday.

Pointing out that such a ban was not country-specific, Sharma said, the Government had taken the decision as per the parameters laid down by the security agencies and the Union Home Ministry. India had banned import of mobile phones that lack unique International Mobile Equipment Identity  (IMEI) number. Import of mobile handsets without IMEI number or with all zeroes IMEI is prohibited. IMEI is a 15-digit code that appears on the operator’s network whenever a call is made. The IMEI number helps authorities track users.

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. GSM service providers have already said that they would deny connectivity to cellphones without IMEI number.

It is estimated that there are over 380 million mobile phone users in India. An estimated eight lakh such phones come into the country every month from China. These are unbranded and cost a lot less than the branded variety.

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.

Source :  Expressbuzz