Introducing, Telephony: The Finance and CIT ministries have launched a new digital platform on Wednesday, that will help the government execute better control over the smartphone market in Egypt, and collect duties and taxes for imported devices, according to a joint statement from the ministries. The platform — dubbed telephony — is now available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for android users.

The last day of the year saw 1.2 mn smuggled devices activated in the country to avoid the incoming regulations, NTRA CEO Mohamed Shamroukh said in a press conference (watch, runtime: 0:21).

The details: After a three-month grace period for one device, users can register their mobile phones through the application and pay any owed customs fees. The new system applies only to new mobile phones imported and activated starting 2025. The application will also let users verify whether devices are counterfeit or smuggled into the country without paying for customs.

Remember: Imported mobile phones are subject to customs and tax fees totaling 38.5% — including a 5% development fee tax — as part of incoming government regulations to support the country’s mobile phone manufacturing localization efforts, a high-ranking government source previously told EnterpriseAM.

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