Armenia plans to implement a state system for the registration and control of mobile phone IMEI codes. The corresponding bill was presented by the Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, at a government meeting.

According to the initiators, the lack of unified IMEI control creates risks of circulation of devices with fake identifiers, tax losses, as well as threats in the areas of competition and cybersecurity. Under the new system, communication providers will be obliged to check IMEI codes when devices connect to the network.

According to the project, citizens will have to register their devices when importing smartphones. For phones released in the current or previous year, a state fee of 3,000 drams is provided. For older models, registration will remain free.

Additionally, increased fees are introduced for importing multiple devices within a year: up to 100,000 drams for new models and 20,000 drams for devices from the previous year. The authorities explain these measures by the need to reduce the shadow market.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that the mobile phone market is one of the largest shadow segments of the economy, and the implementation of the system will allow blocking the operation of devices that have not undergone legal registration in the networks of Armenian operators.