DoT orders handset manufacturers to submit IMEI data in 60 days

The Department of Telecom holds the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which is a centralized database of the IMEI numbers of all mobile devices in the country. In order to make additions to the CEIR, the telecom wing of the government has asked handset manufacturers to submit the database of the 15 digits long unique identification code termed as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) within the next two months.

This move by DoT is believed to be in line with its security measures. The agency has been in talks with Indian and international mobile handset manufacturers to compile the IMEI codes for all the mobile phones sold in the country for security purposes.