Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

A data processing center of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies plans to present the IMEI-code online registration system, the center's head Nail Mardanov said on Monday.

IMEI, or the International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique number to identify mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. The IMEI number is used by a GSM network to identify valid devices and designed for preventing phone theft.

The system of IMEI code registration for mobile phones was launched in Azerbaijan on May 1.

Mardanov said the system of the online registration will be available at the electronic government website e-gov.az.

Currently, the IMEI-codes registration is carried out at the Khatai telecommunication hub in Baku and in the central post office of the Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpost. Gradually, the service will be available in other Azerpost offices.

Moreover, in the future the possibility to register IMEI codes using SMS messages may be discussed, Mardanov said.

Mobile phone companies and state bodies of Azerbaijan are involved in the IMEI code registration project. Control and registration of the cellular phones brought to the country for private use in the networks of the local mobile operators is carried out by the State Customs Committee, while the communications ministry regulates the project.

Imported mobile phones are to be registered within a month after launching the system. The codes will be registered in the service centers of GSM operators.

The new rule will not cover tourists and visitors of the country who are provided with roaming services on their mobile phones.

The new system is aimed to solve two problems - stolen and illegally imported phones. In case a cellular phone is stolen, its owner may deliver a relevant police certificate and the network provider will blacklist the phone using its IMEI number. Thus, the registration of IMEI codes will help to prevent the use of stolen phones, as well as phones with "broken" IMEI codes.

The problem of illegal import will be solved through the imei.az website where the user may check the IMEI code. Registration of the mobile phones brought to the country for private usage will be free of charge.

The registration system is connected to a single global blacklist of the GSM association, which will help to combat mobile phone theft internationally.

Currently, over 6 million devices imported to Azerbaijan, which has population of more than 9.3 million people, are registered in the database of IMEI codes. A total of over 10 million devices are expected to be registered in the system.