(a) whether the Government has banned the use of mobile phones without
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of connections
disconnected in the country, State-wise and company-wise during the last
one year; and
(c) the action taken/being taken by the Government against the persons
who are selling these mobile phones in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SACHIN PILOT)
(a) Madam, the Government has instructed to all the Cellular Mobile Service/ Unified
Access Service Licensees that calls from mobile handsets with any International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number which is not available in the latest updated IMEI
database of Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) alongwith
without IMEI or all zeroes as IMEI, are not processed and rejected with effect from
24 Hrs. of 30th November 2009.
(b) Madam, the mobile connection being used in a handset with any IMEI number which
is not available in the latest updated IMEI databse of GSMA alongwith without IMEI or all
zeroes as IMEI, cannot use mobile services after implementation of the instructions referred
in (a) above. However, the mobile service can be availed by the subscriber using a handset
with valid IMEI.
(d) Madam, the import of mobile handsets without IMEI or with all zeroes IMEI is
prohibited in the country.