Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan will apply a new method for checking IMEI-codes of mobile phones, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Iltimas Mammadov said on June 19.

The main purpose of the new method is to prevent access of non-certified mobile phones to the Azerbaijani market.

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

According to Mammadov, the innovation will be applied on the imei.az website, which contains a public database of mobile devices.

Checking the mobile phone IMEI-code via the website will require indicating the model of the phone, which will be a novelty. Currently, the check-ups are carried out only by the IMEI-code of the device. A new verification system will be available on the website in the next two days, Mammadov said.

Currently, some countries, such as China and Arab states, use the practice of applying the IMEI-code in the devices which were not designed for such codes.

For example, the IMEI-code allocated to the GSM Association, like Nokia, in fact, can be used in the devices of another manufacturer. Therefore, during phone purchases, it is planned to apply this method, Mammadov said.

Mammadov also warned those planning to order mobile phones online or to buy them abroad. He said that while buying mobile phones outside the country, the buyer should demand documents proving that the device is certified and meets quality standards. Otherwise, problems may arise in the future with its use over Azerbaijani mobile networks.

Moreover, it is impossible to purchase mobile phones in the secondary market, as they may be stolen devices.

The IMEI code registration system involves a "black list", which includes the stolen mobile phones and devices with "cloned" IMEI-codes, and even the IMEI-codes of mobile phones stolen in other countries. Their use in Azerbaijani mobile providers' networks will be impossible.

Information Technology Center of the ICT Ministry plans to present the IMEI-code online registration system, Mammadov said.

According to him, the registration is available on the e-government portal (e-gov.az), and the registration of the GSM-device code requires a digital signature to confirm the user's identity.

Mobile phones imported to the country for private use in the networks of Azerbaijani cellular operators are to be registered within a month after launching the system.

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

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

The mobile phone IMEI-code registration system was launched in Azerbaijan in May. The new system provides accurate information about the mobile phone market of the country.

So far, the IMEI-codes database in Azerbaijan has registered more than 12 million mobile phones, Mammadov said.

In addition to mobile phones, the system includes more than 400 devices of the GSM standard.

There are also some 300,000 devices that do not comply with the standards. Their work in the network is not limited, but it has been linked to a particular number, which means that the users of these phones will not be able to sell them or use them with a different number.

"These devices will gradually leave the market and the network will consist of the phones that meet the standards," he said.

According to Mammadov, since the new system started operation, there have been about 20,000 non-compliant phones.

Moreover, since the launch of the system 85 complaints have been made over theft of the mobile devices, and their use in the network was discontinued.