Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication (IT&T) Thursday termed the replication of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) as a security threat and recommended for binding cellular companies to avoid such duplication.
It must be noted that IMEI number of mobile phones can be replicated, changed, modified and updated through software that are easily available in the market.
Moreover, IMEI number is usually used to identify a mobile phones on a network. Single IMEI, even if used with different SIMs of different mobile phone operators, can be identified with ease. However, when IMEI number is changed/modified this identity is lost.
Committee said that mobile IMEI numbers are being updated countless times to avoid track-record of phones, which is a serious security threat and legislation should be put in place to make it compulsory for the mobile companies to keep data base and avoid such duplication.
The committee met with with Shahi Syed in the chair on Thursday.
It must be noted here that low-cost Chinese handsets use to come with same IMEI numbers, i.e. more than one handset coming with same IMEI numbers.
Since IMEI numbers are assigned by GSMA and they are purchased against a cost, ultra-cheap Chinese handset makers use one same IMEI in several thousand devices to avoid cost.
PTA, through type approval process introduced already, blocks any such handsets with similar IMEIs.
Import of phones with duplicate IMEI numbers is also banned in Pakistan.
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Ismail Shah confirmed the replication of IMEI number but said that different measures including Type-Approval and moving towards data base have been taken to control the menace.
Senator Rehman Malik recommended that a law may be framed to bind that IMEI number of imported mobile phone may be used in one mobile phone, i.e. along side blocking import of such phones, telcos should also be pushed to not to allow more than one device with similar IMEI on their networks.
ایسے فون درامد کرنے کی اجازت نہیں ہونی چاہیئے، جن میں اردو نہ ہو۔
Actually asy phone import ni hone chahye Jin k imei same hon
what about the dual sim phones with same imei number on both sim slots?
They are actually the focus in this statement… am myself using xiaomi redmi note 3 dual sim with same imei
What are you gonna do? It will be blocked soon!
Bro I am using it as a secondary device with note 5…. I hope using single Sim in such phones won’t be a problem…. And if at all blocked, I’ll get it modified from some mobile shop who can handle changing IMEI numbers…. Simple
ThankU for info. I was planning to buy a Redmi 3 Pro so I was asking.
who says phones with dual sim has dual same IMEIs?
I am a mobile tech and never seen dual IMEIs same until someone change it.
this statement is for brands not for unknown phones.
A friend’s Xiaomi Redmi 2 has same IMEI on both sims too.
Guys It cant be blocked.. How many cloned imeis will telecos block? How will an operator judge that which one is orignal incase the Imei in DB is cloned… Moreover the only way to block unassigned imei is reg a set with specific imei burnt in sim card and if user wants to change his set he can inform the company and get the new imei burnt in his sim through Otapa …