In a significant development, India has banned the import of Chinese mobile phones without unique identity code numbers, India’s commerce ministry announced. These phones were considered a security risk and this comes in the aftermath of last year’s Mumbai terror attacks and also because of the recent security issues involving the use of such phones.
According to the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade notification, mobile handsets without an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number cannot be imported anymore. IMEI is a unique 15-digit handset number that is used for tracking its sale and helps mobile operators to identify valid handsets. This number can also be used to make phone useless (even without SIM) by mobile operators in case the device is stolen.
Earlier, the Department of Telecom (DoT) had directed telephone operators to disconnect services to subscribers who own handsets that do not have the IMEI code as such phones posed a security threat.
Earlier, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has warned the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) that such phones can be used infiltrate Indian networks and install back door entries, remote login facilities, and design malwares like Trojan horses.
