Number of phones brought from abroad is increasing: A total of 29 million phones have been registered

In Turkey, 29 million 18 thousand 797 mobile phones were registered to the Mobile Device Registration System last year, with 13.6 million of them being from domestic manufacturing.

According to a compilation from the 2023 Annual Report of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), while 10 million 127 thousand 34 IMEI numbers were registered through importer applications in 2022, this number reached 14 million 496 thousand 678 last year, marking a 43.1 percent increase.

During the period in question, the number of IMEI numbers registered upon manufacturer application increased by 17.18 percent, rising from 11 million 630 thousand 668 to 13 million 629 thousand 618.

The number of devices brought by passengers from abroad and registered increased by 5.63 percent in the same period, rising from 844 thousand 877 to 892 thousand 501.

Thus, a total of 29 million 18 thousand 797 mobile phones, including those manufactured, imported, and brought in by passengers, were registered in the Mobile Device Registration System last year.

There has also been an increase in requests from citizens calling the Information and Notification Center (BİM) within the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to have their lost or stolen devices blocked from communication.

A total of 1 million 994 thousand 90 calls were received through BİM in 2023. The number of calls increased by 166.09 percent compared to 2022.