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Tengrinews.kz - Smartphone prices in official retail stores across Kazakhstan may decrease following the implementation of a device verification system and the introduction of a so-called "blacklist," according to Damir Seissembekov, head of the Telecommunications Committee at the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry.
According to Seissembekov, the market is beginning to emerge from the shadows as the new system takes effect, creating fairer competition among legal sellers.
"Because of this initiative, smartphone prices in official stores will not rise — in fact, they may even drop. The market is being legalized, and as a result, official distributors will now compete with other legitimate importers. This drives better service and pricing," he explained.
Seissembekov added that major distributors previously spent large sums on marketing and fighting the gray market. Now, those funds can be redirected to benefit consumers.
"These resources will now go toward promotional offers and lowering prices. As major manufacturers observe these changes, it could lead to the opening of official representative offices of international companies in Kazakhstan," he said.
According to Seissembekov, this shift is already underway, with large global brands entering the Kazakh market.
Earlier, authorities extended the deadline for free smartphone verification for individuals until June 25. After that date, buyers will be able to return unverified smartphones to the seller, even if more than two weeks have passed since the purchase.
On February 11, the Ministry of Digital Development announced updates to mobile device registration rules. As of March 24, Kazakhstan introduced white, gray, and black lists for registering cellular devices. The white list includes fully verified and approved devices; the gray list covers devices pending verification and temporarily allowed to connect for up to 30 days; and the black list contains devices with incorrect or altered identification codes, missing factory IMEI numbers, or those flagged by the international GSMA blacklist.
Authorities initially planned for the new rules to take effect on March 24 but later granted residents additional time to complete verification.
Read also: Smartphone verification in Kazakhstan may become a paid service
