BISHKEK (24.kg) — The State Committee for Information Technologies and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic proposes to tighten the rules for registration of mobile phones. The draft resolution was submitted for public discussion.

As the committee noted, the project regulates the procedure for entry into the register of the State System for Identification of IMEI codes of both the imported mobile communication devices and those already in use.

The explanatory note says:

This will protect the country’s market from counterfeit products, reduce the level of fraudulent activities on mobile networks and significantly reduce the number of thefts of mobile communication devices.

Last year, Kazakhstan introduced a similar legislation requiring all mobile phones to be registered with a government database. The requirement is aimed at helping combat terrorism.

Tajikistan adopted a law in November 2016 obliging mobile phone owners to register their devices, citing the need to “to boost the fight against crime.”