Kazakhstan Plans to Move Phone IMEI Verification Under State Control

The state may take over the function of verifying phone IMEI codes, Orda.kz reports.

Last year, this was handled by a private company, effectively a monopoly in the market — ATS Mediafon KZ — which receives 1 MCI for every mobile device imported into the country unofficially. This raised questions among Kazakhstanis who faced difficulties with verification. The digital development ministry had said that other players would soon appear in this market. In the end, however, it was decided to make this area state-run.

This issue is being considered at the government level. It has now been decided that we will move to a state monopoly. In other words, it will be a state organization that will be able to provide the relevant services for the direct verification of phones themselves.Deputy Minister of Digital Development Rostislav Konyashkin said.

The relevant regulatory changes are now being considered in the Mazhilis. If they are adopted, the process will be handled entirely by a state-owned company.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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