Number of phones brought from abroad increased 6-fold last year
According to BTK data, 22.6 million mobile phones were registered in 2022. The number of devices brought by passengers from abroad and registered reached 844,877 in 2022, an annual increase of 666 percent.
AA
The number of devices brought by passengers from abroad and registered reached 844,877 in 2022, an increase of "666.31 percent." In 2021, this number was only 110,253.
The "permit fee for the use of phones brought by passengers" was increased by 228 percent this July, from 6,091 TL to 20,000 TL.
22.6 MILLION PHONES REGISTERED
According to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) Activity Report, a total of 22 million 602 thousand 579 mobile phones were registered in the Mobile Device Registration System (MCKS) in 2022.
While 11 million 951 thousand 260 IMEI numbers were registered via importer applications in 2021, this number decreased by 15.26 percent to 10 million 127 thousand 34 in 2022.
During the same period, the number of IMEI numbers registered via manufacturer applications decreased by 0.82 percent, falling from 11 million 726 thousand 750 to 11 million 630 thousand 668.
EXPLOSION IN THE NUMBER OF PHONES BROUGHT FROM ABROAD
The number of devices brought by passengers from abroad and registered increased by 666.31 percent in the same period, rising from 110,253 to 844,877.
Thus, a total of 22 million 602 thousand 579 mobile phones, including those manufactured, imported, and brought by passengers, were registered in the MCKS last year.
NOTIFICATIONS INCREASED
There was also an increase in requests from citizens calling the Information and Notification Center (BİM) within the BTK to have lost or stolen devices blocked. A total of 749,381 calls were received through BİM in 2022. The number of calls increased by 46.88 percent compared to 2021.