How to Verify Mobile IMEI in Nepal?

How to Verify Mobile IMEI in Nepal? In Nepal, the NTA (Nepal Telecommunication Authority) has long established online registration for mobile phones. To stop illegal phones from operating and help people track their lost phones, they have begun this online registration with MDMS (Mobile Device Management System). The IMEI registration would also discourage the grey phone market in the country.

Despite it already being illegal to sell and promote grey phones in Nepal, there are still a lot of them. And it is also very easily available in the market, which the shops sell without any fear. Since MDMS implementation, people are less inclined to purchase grey phones or even import phones from abroad.

Phone IMEI registration in Nepal

With the IMEI registration in MDMS now underway, the regulator has started blocking the operation of illegal phones. As a result, the phones can no longer connect to any mobile network in Nepal. It will take a while to block all those grey mobile phones from working with Nepali telecommunications companies. In the past, NTA handled the registration manually, but now they claim the system has been fully implemented since Kartik 19, 2080.
However, they have not yet integrated their database system with those of telcos like NTC and Ncell. Therefore, telcos are still blocking unregistered phones manually.

The phone database was delayed because there wasn’t a full-fledged MDMS, and unregistered phones stopped working. As a result of COVID, the required infrastructure and equipment have been delayed, and lastly, Prime Minister Prachanda has initiated an investigation into the system. CIAA is investigating the system because they suspect irregularities.

In order to launch or sell a phone, the IMEI must be registered in NTA MDMS. Millions of people have already done so. Additionally, you may register for devices brought from abroad. In Jestha 2080, NTA announced the implementation of MDMS, and the actual blocking of phones begins in Kartik 2080. Mobile phones brought through official channels (the authorized ones) and those registered in MDMS will be able to connect only to the mobile network from now on.
This will be a big encouragement for all firms and companies that sell mobile phones officially. It will eventually shut down the grey market as a whole.

How to register your mobile phone IMEI online in NTA?

In Nepal, you can register your phone’s IMEI online by following the steps below.

• Visit the NTA MDMS portal, with several options.
• The registration can either be done individually (if the documents are all there, like passport, arrival stamp, boarding pass, departure stamp, etc.) or be gray (if they are not available but you will be paying for the registration).
• Let’s learn more about registering phones for personal use in Nepal through the OGL facility of the Nepal Government.
• Step 1: Please enter the IMEI number, brand, and model of the device you wish to register. If the device has already been registered, you will receive a prompt notification, and you will not need to register it.
• Step 2: Your next step is to verify your email address using OTP.
• Step 3: Then you will need to enter the applicant’s personal information, including the mobile number used in Nepal, the address (from the passport), the date of arrival, and the country of residence. The information of the phone you wish to use can be entered for yourself or some other person.
• Step 4: Upon entering or departing Nepal, you need to confirm the information entered and upload the identification documents like passports, immigration stamps, and boarding passes. A confirmation email will be sent to you if you are able to add all the information correctly. You also need to check the declaration that the phone is genuine and being used for personal purposes.
• The NTA will verify the documents after receiving the online application via the portal, and you will be notified by email if the registration is approved/disapproved. For MDMS registration, all the details need to be correct, and the passport scan needs to be clear, as well as the stamps.

The NTA has made IMEI registration compulsory, whether the device is imported by companies or brought in by individuals. An IMEI is a unique number assigned to every mobile phone, allowing it to be identified worldwide. Telecom operators, mobile manufacturers, and government authorities use the IMEI for various purposes. It is important to keep your IMEI number saved so you can track your phone if it is lost or stolen. You can check your phone’s IMEI by dialing *#06# on your device. The IMEI number is also printed on the phone’s original packaging box.

How to check your phone’s IMEI registration online at NTA?

The steps below will help you determine whether your phone’s IMEI is an official one or if it has already been registered with NTA. The NTA “Know your device portal” has now been disabled. The same registration portal can be used to check your phone registration information on the NTA MDMS.

• Visit the NTA portal for individual phone registration.
• Please enter your phone’s IMEI numbers, brand, model, and whether it is in use.
• If your phone is not already registered, you can proceed with the registration process as described above. A phone’s IMEI can also be checked on the NTA MDMS portal by entering the IMEI of the phone. Similarly, you can check the IMEI details before buying a new phone.

Telcos to cooperate with NTA with this IMEI registration

The NTA has begun to register and block IMEI numbers, but they have asked the telcos to do the same on their networks. Currently, the process is manual, but later, the MDMS database held by NTA should be synchronized with the MDMS database held by the telecom operators. Additionally, they should have the option of blocking it if customers complain about stolen or lost phones.

Since the number of phones is so large, it is necessary to do the blocking by some automatic process rather than manually, which should have been done through the MDMS project of NTA. The centralized EIR will maintain the database at NTA with the customer/importer. And this will also maintain control within the EIRs of operators. As a result, it will be easier to register, track, query, and block those phones based on IMEI.

Advantages of IMEI registration

• A Type Approval system makes online registration easy and hassle-free for mobile companies and authorized companies.
• Phones can be registered easily by individuals.
• A lost phone can also be tracked or blocked using its IMEI, ESN, or MEID.
• The number of grey market phones will decrease, which will encourage more official brands and channels to enter the market.
• With the identification database of each owner, mobile payments will be secure.

The phone can be registered in your own name if it is acquired abroad for personal use without charge, so you can keep it. You will, however, need to pay a government registration fee if you don’t have any official documents for gray phones you bought or bought for personal use.

Let us know if you were able to register your phone’s IMEI in the NTA MDMS and how it went getting approved. Also, please let us know if you had any troubles going through the MDMS system that is now blocking grey phones from working in Nepal.

FAQs About Verifying Mobile IMEI in Nepal

Conclusion

The IMEI registration system introduced by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority through MDMS helps control illegal phones, reduce the grey market, and improve security. It ensures only registered devices operate in Nepal while enabling users to track, verify, and protect their mobile phones effectively.