Calls from mobile handsets without international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) numbers or an electronic serial number (ESN), or calls from mobile handsets with an IMEI or ESN which is all zeroes, will be processed and rejected. This was revealed in a statement by the minister for communications and information technology, Andimuthu Raja in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) today.

According to the minister, the government has noted that Chinese mobile handsets without IMEI numbers are available in the market.

Although importing cellular mobile handsets is allowed under open general licence, with a view to safeguarding security the government has told customs to allow imports of mobile handsets only after checking IMEI numbers. Security agencies sometimes use IMEI numbers to track antisocial elements.

The minister of state for communications and information technology, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, said that in order to restrict the use of Wifi Internet connectivity by unauthorised persons, the government has instructed all telecom service providers to secure Wifi internet services, including introducing a centralised authentication mechanism.