Expert Eldar Murtazin from Mobile Research Group stated that creating a unified federal database of all mobile devices in Russia will not only combat smuggling but also effectively block enemy drones using mobile networks.
According to him, drones without registration in the database can be easily identified and disconnected from communication. In addition, the registry will help to strictly control the supply of mobile equipment to the country. A similar system is already successfully operating, for example, in Turkey, where the import of devices without IMEI numbers is prohibited.
The initiative to create such a database is being developed with the participation of the Ministry of Digital Development and the government apparatus. It is assumed that all devices with SIM cards will be accounted for by a unique 15-digit IMEI — a code that allows identifying any mobile device, from smartphones to drones and alarms. The registry will be managed by a specially appointed operator who will be able to track the legality of the devices and block stolen phones, unauthorized SIM boxes, and drones.
In the future, the database will cover almost all GSM devices, including routers, "smart" gadgets, and some laptops, excluding devices that only work via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, as well as outdated phones without IMEI. The Ministry of Digital Development emphasizes that the project is under discussion and may change, but the key tasks remain security and protection of citizens from cyber threats.
Murtazin believes that the Russian system will be built on the example of the Turkish model, where foreigners arriving for more than two months are required to register devices and pay a tax — otherwise, communication does not work. This approach, in his opinion, can be effectively applied in Russia as well.
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