Experts: Introduction of IMEI Numbers Registry in Russia May Lead to Paid Registration of Mobile Devices

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The idea of creating a unified IMEI registry in Russia — a database of unique identification numbers for mobile devices — has once again come to the fore and may be implemented in the near future. Deputy Head of the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia, Dmitry Ugnivenko, announced plans to establish such a database during a meeting of the Public Council under the ministry, as reported by "Rossiyskaya Gazeta".

According to him, linking IMEI numbers to specific SIM cards will allow for more accurate identification of devices in communication networks and, in particular, reduce the risks associated with their use in unmanned systems. In the long term, the ministry hopes that this will lead to a relaxation of existing restrictive measures.

The IMEI registry itself is not a new idea: it has been discussed in Russia for over a decade and has already been implemented in many countries, including Uzbekistan, Turkey, India, and Chile. Typically, smartphones, tablets, modems, laptops with SIM modules, and other devices capable of operating in cellular networks are subject to mandatory registration. Owners of such devices are usually given 30 to 60 days from the moment of their first connection to the network to enter their data into the database.

In the summer of 2025, the initiative was relaunched as part of the so-called second package of anti-fraud measures. The document envisages not only the creation of a federal state information system but also the granting of powers to its operator to control legal end-user equipment and block the IMEI numbers of stolen phones, SIM boxes, and drones.

IMEI is a 15-digit code assigned to a device by the manufacturer. It is used for registration in the network and allows operators to restrict access to communication for stolen or lost devices if necessary. Such an identifier is not only found in phones but also in mobile routers, certain laptop models, "smart home" devices, security systems, drones, and even some cars.

Telecom industry players are cautious about the project. Mobile operators note that creating and maintaining such a federal state information system is an organizationally complex task requiring a detailed analysis of already existing control mechanisms, including those applied to foreign citizens.

Experts point out that the state is increasingly building a link between "user - SIM card - specific device." In recent years, control over the circulation of SIM cards has already been tightened, and foreigners can only purchase them after passing biometric tests and with mandatory IMEI registration in the contract.

Some analysts note that IMEI control may have a limited effect but could create inconveniences for law-abiding users. A separate risk is errors and duplicates in the database. IMEI numbers on some devices can be replaced, leading to the appearance of "duplicates" and the blocking of legally purchased and used devices.

Some experts have found another application for a unified IMEI database — combating "gray" imports. The registry could remove devices from the market that are not intended for Russia.

Expert of the Telegram channel "Radio Tishina," Yulia Tishina, emphasizes that without synchronization with the global IMEI database of the GSMA association, the national registry will be ineffective. In addition, she notes that in previous years, discussions on this initiative were consistently accompanied by the question of paid registration for each device — and this factor could become the most unexpected and sensitive for consumers.