MONGOLIA
Reported in 2023, last reported in 2024
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Delays on import and export procedures
It is reported that a significant time is required for the processing of export and import documentation at the border. Prolonged processing times for international mail handling have been attributed to the customs clearance procedures administered by the International Mail Centre (IMC) of Mongolian Customs. It is also reported that the UPost system used by the IMC lacks interoperability with the systems of delivery service providers such as Mongol Post, UPC, and DHL, requiring manual data entry.
Coverage Horizontal
MONGOLIA
Since August 2019
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Resolution No. 29 regarding the Type Approval Regulatory Guidelines for Information and Communication Equipment (Мэдээлэл, харилцаа холбооны тоног төхөөрөмжийн загварыг баталгаажуулах журам)
Under the "Type Approval Regulatory Guidelines for Information and Communication Equipment", the majority of wireless and telecommunications equipment must obtain type approval from the Communications Regulatory Commission of Mongolia (CRC). Section 5.1 stipulates that products must be accompanied by test reports demonstrating compliance with the relevant test standards and limits, in accordance with European Union Standards (EN), issued within 6 years before issuance. These standards include electromagnetic compatibility requirements. In addition, Section 6.5 states that if the CRC is unable to conduct testing and evaluation due to insufficient measurement capabilities or human resources, it may seek assistance from other governmental organisations of similar status, testing institutions, university laboratories, or accredited laboratories in foreign countries.
Coverage Electronic products
MONGOLIA
Since May 2023, last amended in August 2024
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Payment System Procedures (Төлбөрийн системийн журам)
According to Section 5.40.11 of the Payment System Procedures, the maximum amount permitted for a single spending transaction by a user corresponds to the upper limit for small-value transactions as determined by order of the President of the Bank of Mongolia. The Bank of Mongolia’s 2024 explanatory guidance clarifies that, for registered electronic-money users, this limit is MNT 5,000,000 (approx. USD 1,400) and applies only to user transactions, not to transactions carried out by contractual agents or merchants cooperating with the electronic-money issuer. In addition, as stipulated in Section 5.40.14, the maximum daily spending limit for unregistered users is MNT 40,000 (approx. USD 12), and the explanatory guidance clarifies that this limit applies only to unregistered users.
Coverage Horizontal
MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
Mongolian law and jurisprudence lack a fundamental legal framework governing intermediary liability for copyright infringement. Art. 52 of the Law on Copyright merely stipulates that internet service providers, aggregators, website owners, telecommunications service providers, broadcasting organisations, and multi-channel transmitters must facilitate the receipt of reports concerning copyright and related rights infringements. Additionally, they are obligated to suspend or terminate the unlawful use of copyrighted works and related rights on their networks upon receiving such reports.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place beyond copyright infringement
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Mongolia's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
MONGOLIA
Since October 2002
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Mongolia has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty. The treaty was signed on 20 December 1996, ratified on 25 July 2002 and came into effect on 25 October 2002.
Coverage Horizontal
MONGOLIA
Since April 2020, last amended in February 2025
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator User identity requirement
Resolution of the Communications Regulatory Commission No. 23 On the Approval of the Terms and Conditions for Obtaining a Special Licence to Provide Telecommunications Services (Харилцаа холбооны зохицуулах хорооны тогтоол Дугаар 23 “Харилцаа холбооны үйлчилгээ эрхлэх тусгай зөвшөөрлийн нөхцөл, шаардлага”-ыг батлах тухай)
Under Clause 5.12.9 of Annex I of "Resolution of the Communications Regulatory Commission No. 23 On the Approval of the Terms and Conditions for Obtaining a Special Licence to Provide Telecommunications Services", telephone service providers are required to implement a user registration system that records individual users by their national registration number. In the case of organisational clients, the registration must include the organisation’s registration number as well as the personal registration number, surname, and given name of the authorised individual representing the organisation. Importantly, this requirement applies not only to traditional telephone services but also to Internet Protocol-based telephone services.
Coverage Traditional and Internet Protocol-based telephone services
MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of comprehensive regulatory framework covering trade secrets
Mongolia lacks a comprehensive legal framework for the effective protection of trade secrets. Nevertheless, certain limited provisions address specific aspects of trade secret protection, including those found in the Law of Mongolia on Organisation Secrets. Similar measures are also present in the Law of Mongolia on Competition, which includes regulations concerning unfair competition, such as the misappropriation of trade secrets.
Coverage Horizontal
MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Lack of obligation to share passive infrastructure
There is no obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Mongolia to deliver telecom services to end users. However, it is practiced in the mobile sector and in the fixed sector based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
MONGOLIA
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2024
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The leading companies in Mongolia’s telecommunications sector include state-owned and state-dominated entities such as the Information Communication Network Company (NETcom) and Mongolian Telecom (officially, Mongolian Telecommunications Corporation JSC). The government fully owns NETcom, which operates the country’s integrated fibre optic cable network. It also holds a 94.7% stake in Mongolian Telecom, with the remaining 5.3% owned by a mix of foreign and domestic individuals and legal entities.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250219225719/https://opendata.burtgel.gov.mn/lesinfo/amZxWEE1QlNRVUFYNmErUXRvYzRsUT09Ojor9mS0Uga4_aoYJzQR68Lz
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250324205345/https://www.telecommongolia.mn/aboutus
- https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/TPR/S406R1.pdf&Open=True
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MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional and accounting separation for dominant network operators
Mongolia does not mandate functional or accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
MONGOLIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Mongolia has appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
MONGOLIA
Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Presence of an independent telecom authority
It is reported that the Communications Regulatory Commission, the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
MONGOLIA
Reported in 2020, last reported in 2025
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Reported prohibition on cross-border data transfers
It is reported that specific financial data subject to data localisation requirements cannot be transmitted internationally.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260131161402/https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/mongolia/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250217160456/https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-investment-climate-statements/mongolia
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250512203125/https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-investment-climate-statements/mongolia__trashed/
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MONGOLIA
Since September 2023
Since December 2021, entry into force in May 2022
Since December 2021, entry into force in May 2022
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Regulation on Technical Requirements for Processing Sensitive, Biometric, and Genetic Data (ХҮНИЙ ЭМЗЭГ МЭДЭЭЛЭЛ, ГЕНЕТИК БОЛОН БИОМЕТРИК МЭДЭЭЛЭЛ БОЛОВСРУУЛАХАД БАРИМТЛАХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙН АЮУЛГҮЙ БАЙДЛЫН ШААРДЛАГА, ЖУРАМ)
Law of Mongolia on Personal Data Protection (МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН ХУУЛЬ ХҮНИЙ ХУВИЙН МЭДЭЭЛЭЛ ХАМГААЛАХ ТУХАЙ)
Law of Mongolia on Personal Data Protection (МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН ХУУЛЬ ХҮНИЙ ХУВИЙН МЭДЭЭЛЭЛ ХАМГААЛАХ ТУХАЙ)
Section 3 of the "Regulation on Technical Requirements for Processing Sensitive, Biometric, and Genetic Data" sets out the requirements for servers processing sensitive personal information. Among other stipulations, it mandates that the server be physically located within Mongolia and accessible exclusively from within Mongolia.
Pursuant to Section 1, the objective of this Regulation is to establish the principles and technological security requirements governing the processing of sensitive personal data, as well as genetic and biometric data, as stipulated in Arts. 9 and 10 of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data.
Pursuant to Section 1, the objective of this Regulation is to establish the principles and technological security requirements governing the processing of sensitive personal data, as well as genetic and biometric data, as stipulated in Arts. 9 and 10 of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250301225053/https://legalinfo.mn/mn/detail?lawId=16760452348261
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250301225106/https://www.pwc.com/mn/en/services/legal_mn/legal-articles/legal_insights_feb_24_2025.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250213203210/https://legalinfo.mn/en/edtl/16532053734461
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