With the expansion of adoption of mobile communication devices, the world is facing increasing cases of mobile device theft, of international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) replication and of the use of counterfeit mobile devices. To prevent usage of such irregular devices, one of the possible actions recommended by ITU-T Q.5050, ITU-T Q.5051 and ITU-T Q.5052 is that the mobile network operator (MNO) block the irregular mobile device unique identifier in the equipment identity register (EIR) and implement a series of device control lists (such as permitted, tracked and blocked) to manage this process. ITU-T Q.5050, ITU-T Q.5051 and ITU-T Q.5052 also indicate the need for an irregular device to be blocked at the same time in different MNOs (within the country and also around the world) and for this the use of a central equipment identity register (CEIR) is required to consolidate and distribute the data contained on these control lists to all the connected mobile network operators (MNOs). To assist the countries aiming to implement a CEIR, this Recommendation provides a detailed technical description of the CEIR system, its requirements, the interfaces and basic functions it should provide and some optional features that may be used, depending on the country specific requirements. It also describes the different stakeholders of the CEIR system and their intended or expected roles and responsibilities.

Draft new Recommendation ITU-T Q.5055 (ex Q.CEIR), which was consented at the SG11 meeting in May 2024, changed approval process to Traditional Approval Process (TAP) according to ITU-T A.8 / §5.2 in opening Plenary of SG11 on 19 February 2025.