Last Updated on December 12, 2023
Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has said that unregistered (grey) phones in Nepal will be blacklisted from Kartik 19 onwards. That means, if you fail to register your unregistered handset in NTA’s mobile device management system (MDMS), then your phone will not be operating on any mobile network in Nepal. However, you can legitimize your phone by registering it within the given timeline. The government has devised a fee structure for MDMS registration costs for Android, iPhone, and bar phones. We have set all the details below.
Earlier, during the budget speech for FY 2080/81, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat announced that the government will allow unregistered phone owners to register their phones in MDMS by the end of Ashar, 2080 BS or face blacklist from Ashar 01. And despite the deadline already crossed, few adhered to the government. However, the authority NTA has again released a notice and warned that mobile devices that evade registration till Kartik 19 will be on the blacklist. That is because the authority said that it will fully launch the mobile device management system MDMS in the next 15 days.
Check out: NTA sets Rs 11 billion budget for telecom service improvement and expansion
No cellular calls, data, or SMS after the block
If the news has caused you to worry, you need be. Being on a blacklist means your phone will no longer be able to connect and use cellular services. You won’t be able to use voice calls, data, and SM services on such a phone. Despite the government warning, very few have gone to NTA sites and registered their phones but the authority might go strict this time. Anyway, the authority has been very generous in not stripping phones of telecom services. Currently, over 50 lakh mobile phones are operating without MDMS registration in Nepal, as per NTA sources.
NTA Assistant spokesperson Achyutananda Mishra earlier shared that grey phones aren’t being blocked immediately. He said, “Financial Bill 2080 has made special provisions regarding mobile phone registration. But there is no clear provision regarding grey phones. Therefore, mobile phones in the grey list remain operational. Later, we will decide on what to do with them as per the decision by the government.”
As per the latest arrangement, phones can be registered with their IMEI number after paying the charges to the regulator.
Check out: PM Dahal: NTA’s TERAMOCS Monitoring System “Won’t Be Implemented”
MDMS phone registration cost for iPhone, Android, and Bar phone
NTA is charging Rs 10,000 for iPhones and other devices costing over Rs 1 lakh for MDMS registration per unit. Likewise, Android phones will cost Rs 3,000 per unit to become legal with registration. In the meantime, bar phones will cost Rs 200 for their registration per unit.
| SN | MDMS phone registration cost | Fee |
| 1 | iPhones, phones costing Rs 1 lakh above | Rs 10,000 |
| 2 | Android Phones (< 1 lakh) | Rs 3,000 |
| 3 | Bar phones | Rs 200 |
The owners who pay for registration must submit the amount to the concerned tax account designated by the Finance Ministry. With the payment document being the proof, phones could go in for the registration process.
However, Nepalese working abroad for at least 6 months can bring two cellular phones to Nepal without paying customs charges. A person in concern must have supportive documents to prove his abroad employment.MDMS initially came into operation in beta form from Jestha 01.
As per reports, there are around 25% of grey phones in circulation in Nepal. If they miss out on registration, they will be on the blacklist. As a result, these phones won’t be able to use cellular services on any network in Nepal. Therefore, we urge our readers to ensure that their phone is legally working or register them in time.
Check out: How to register your phone IMEI online in Nepal?
How to register a grey phone in the MDMS system in Nepal?
NTA has started an online system to help you register your “grey” phone in the MDMS system. If you carry a grey iPhone, Android, or a bar phone, then you can finally register it at NTA’s MDMS portal. Remember that you need to pay charges for the type of phone you are registering.
To register your grey phone follow the steps below,
- First, visit NTA MDMS registration portal (seems like this grey phone registration is gone now)
- Submit your device’s details such as IMEI, personal details, and your address
- Click on “Proceed to Next Step”
- Choose your preferred mode of payment from eSewa, Khalti, and ConnectIPS
- After paying the charges for your phone type, your grey phone’s MDMS registration will be complete.
You need to be careful that after paying the amount, your phone’s details cannot be changed. And even if the payment completion is not notified, it will be treated as a payment. The authority has requested that those who submit the form shall check if their phone is registered or not in MDMS.
Do note that the Customs Department has also asked grey phone owners to register their devices that were imported into Nepal by Jestha 15, 2080. And despite the Ashar deadline, you can still register your currently unregistered phone as there is no confirmation regarding the blacklisting or any provision for such phones. After Kartik 19, you may not get another chance.
