The initiative Egypt is currently working on to tackle mobile phones smuggling in the country is aimed to give a boost to phone industry in the country.
Two government agencies; the ministry of finance and ministry of communication and information technology; has come together to make the initiative works has planned.
Both ministries work together to build an electronic system and network that makes it much possible to track and trace imported phones. Doing this, the initiatives are protecting consumers buying fake or smuggling phones.
The built electronics system and network is an app called “Telephony”. Telephony works in the sense that when you purchases a new phone, you can register the device on the app. If the phone is a smuggled device, the app can easily detect it.
The Telephony app is also designed to ensures fair market practices in the sense that it helps regulate the market for proper accounting of taxes and customs duties on imported phones.
Must Read: Everything you need to know about Crypto Better SIM.
The app is also used to handles electronic and online payments of any applicable fees for additional phones. For example, if you want to renew any fees regarding your phone, the Telephony app can be of help in this case.
The Telephony app became effective on January 1, 2025 and it worth noting that the app will not affect any phone that’s already registered and activated before that day.
In other words, it’s a non-retroactive system that excludes phones activated before January 1, 2025. This help to ensures only new imported phones are subject to the rules.
In conclusion, the introduction of Telephony app by the Egyptian government is aimed to support local manufacturers in a way that let them adapt to the growth of local phone manufacturing by international brands in Egypt.
And most importantly, the app a win for consumers who’ll be better protected from fake or illegally imported devices. Plus allowing travelers to bring one mobile phone for personal use without paying fees. However, this is limited to once every three months.
