Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Kyiv, August 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian mobile operators have asked the National Communications Regulatory Commission (NCRC) to postpone the introduction of the IMEI code checking system, a commission member, Volodymyr Zverev, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"We'll gather and think how to settle the problem," he said.

Zverev said that if mobile operators give enough arguments, the terms for the introduction of the said system could be postponed.

"May be, we'll build the system using our money, and they would finish it. This option is being considered," the official said.

Zverev said that at present, he is acting commission head, as Serhiy Kolobov is on sick leave.

The commission's press service on Tuesday refuted an information that the decision to postpone the introduction of the system for a half of the year spread in the mass media.

The new system was presented in April and has been under trial testing until now.

The system was launched in response to new rules for the import of radio electronics into the country adopted by the National Communications Regulatory Commission (NCRC) in February and put into effect on March 28.

The new rules foresee the creation of a unified register of legally imported phones. According to the new rules, the importers of the phones are obliged to submit to the USCRF within 10 days after the import information on the IMEI-codes (unique identification numbers of phones given by their manufacturers) of imported mobile phones as well as customs documents, only after which they can obtain permits for their sale.

The new rules also oblige the mobile network operators to provide the USCRF from September 2009 with the IMEI-codes of the phones serviced by their networks.

Earlier market players and users criticized the IMEI code checking system, as several mobile phone with the same IMEI codes are operating in the network, as earlier they were freely changed during repairs, unlocking of stolen phones and replacement of software.