Mandatory registration of IMEI numbers

I came across information related with mobile rule in Turkey. All IMEI numbers of locally sold mobile phones are registered at service providers’ network. Any foreign phone, with non-registered IMEI number can work without any issue, if it is using its original foreign network SIM card. That would come under international roaming and user will have to pay stiff charges as per international roaming rates. But if someone visiting the country with foreign phone and try to use the local SIM card, it will be blocked within days as that would be categorized as non-registered IMEI number. So, you have 3 options for mobile phone use in Turkey:

1. You can use a foreign phone and SIM card, and pay international roaming charges for all your calls. 
2. You can buy a phone at local store, along with a local SIM card. There are places in Turkey where you can get phones on rent as well. This option is like anyone using a local phone. 
3. You have to register your phone (basically its IMEI number) with authorities. This is a complicated process, as it requires a valid foreign passport and invoice of the phone to prove your ownership. Once registered, you can buy and use a local SIM card in that phone. 

Why am I telling you all this about Phone rules in Turkey? This is a simple piece of information passed on to me, and it kept me thinking. Why can’t we implement this here in India? 

We have too many problems related to Phone and our government is trying their best to address these. There are terrorists using phone to communicate without getting caught, there are thief who steal mobile phone and sell it in black market, then there are new phones being sold in black market, much before their official launch in India, like iPhone. 

Think about this, if all our local phones IMEI numbers are stored in database with service providers, you will not be able to steam anyone’s phone, and sell it after changing the IMEI number. The phone will not work after new IMEI number is flashed. The database can also be extended to have the model of phone as well, so it will not be possible to flash some cheap local phone’s IMEI number onto a stolen phone. Then the thief can only sell these into some component market for spare parts. They will not get too much money, and the stealing will be minimized, if not eliminated.

Similarly, terrorists using a foreign phone with local SIM taken on forged paperwork will not work, reducing such use. I know it will not stop them, as they can always buy a new phone from local market. But this way, they have to leave another trail to follow their network by police. 

With the kind of reliance we are growing on our mobile devices, security is a major concern. Today, it is not just a communication device; it is our personal assistant, contact diary, appointments, reminders, road guide, watch, alarm clock and a lot more. Today, our phone is used as our access gateway to not just internet, but our travel tickets for train as well as flights, Bank Account including Instant Payment transfers like IMPS, Online Shopping, and whole lot of other financial and critical activities which gets impacted once the device is lost or stolen. 

All our government and private sector is implementing new features which link us with our phone. There is even access to offices given based on OTP sent on your phone. You can change your bank record, including ATM Pin with OTP on your mobile. So, security of our mobile should be a major concern. But looking at the current structure and technical challenges, it appears that our police is not equipped to deal with such stolen phone. The best you can hope is that your lost phone can be traced with the help of IMEI number. But technology enables us to change that IMEI number with help of just a laptop, or even without laptop in some cases. 

I know there are challenges with this process, and it is going to be a pain for tourists using local SIM card. It will also open up one more area of corruption as we can easily have touts who can ease out the registration process. It may not be full proof as registering stolen device with new IMEI number as phone bought back from abroad can also be done with help of corruption. But I don’t think fear of corruption should be criteria for implementing new process. No matter what you do, corruption can find its way. That’s another battle and should not be linked with process and policies. 

I am not an expert here, but our government has enough resources and experts to evaluate this process and come up with something more suitable for India. I do think that this process at least worthy of evaluation, and if implemented, should be another step towards securing our mobile devices.