Under CEIR, all operators will share these lists with each other, thus making sure that a phone on one’s network does not get activated on the other, ensuring consumer safety and national security.
NEW DELHI: Consumers can look forward to safeguarding their mobile phones and private data on them from theft, as the government is proposing to set up a registry of IMEI numbers which will be a central system where all carriers will be able to share data on stolen or lost phones, thus preventing such phones from getting activated again even if SIM is changed.
A six-month pilot of the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR) will be started by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in Pune, the telecom department said in a notification on Tuesday, terming the loss or cloning of mobile phone as a threat to person and national security. The broad aim of the plan is to protect consumer interest, curtail counterfiet mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, detect cloning of phones and allow lawful interception, when needed.
“The theft and cloning of mobile phones has become a serious problem, it is not just a financial loss but also a threat to personal life of citizens and national security. A substantial number of counterfeit phones are active in our mobile networks with fake IMEI numbers, which are illegal copies of popular brands and models, and affect the quality of service to consumers,” the department said.
“They pose health risks as they have not been tested against safety standards and may emit higher levels of radiation than recommended. Law enforcement agencies also face problems of lawful interception when they seek to intercept based on mobile equipment identity,” the department added.
IMEI or International Mobile Equipment Identity is a 15 digit number unique to each mobile phone which identifies the make, model and manufacturer, which helps in tracking a phone and calls by law enforcement agencies, as well. Each mobile network has an equipment identity register (EIR) which comprises of all permitted IMEIs under white list, non-conforming phones under gray list and stolen or lost phones under a black list.
Under CEIR, all operators will share these lists with each other, thus making sure that a phone on one’s network does not get activated on the other, ensuring consumer safety and national security.
DoT is coming down hard on fake IMEI numbers and tracking of lost phones with work going on for making tampering of IMEI number a punishable offence with up to three years of imprisonment. The DoT has barred telecom operators from providing service to any mobile phone with fake IMEI number but the operators face problem in identifying handsets with duplicate IMEI number.
Before the nationwide rollout of CEIR across all operators, the department has proposed to have a pilot in Maharashtra, to be done by Pune team of BSNL, which once completed over a six month period, will be rolled out to all operators in Maharashtra. Call detail records of BSNL users of the circle will be utilised for the plan
A six-month pilot of the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR) will be started by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in Pune, the telecom department said in a notification on Tuesday, terming the loss or cloning of mobile phone as a threat to person and national security. The broad aim of the plan is to protect consumer interest, curtail counterfiet mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, detect cloning of phones and allow lawful interception, when needed.
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DoT plans cell for safeguarding consumers against theft of phones |
“The theft and cloning of mobile phones has become a serious problem, it is not just a financial loss but also a threat to personal life of citizens and national security. A substantial number of counterfeit phones are active in our mobile networks with fake IMEI numbers, which are illegal copies of popular brands and models, and affect the quality of service to consumers,” the department said.
“They pose health risks as they have not been tested against safety standards and may emit higher levels of radiation than recommended. Law enforcement agencies also face problems of lawful interception when they seek to intercept based on mobile equipment identity,” the department added.
IMEI or International Mobile Equipment Identity is a 15 digit number unique to each mobile phone which identifies the make, model and manufacturer, which helps in tracking a phone and calls by law enforcement agencies, as well. Each mobile network has an equipment identity register (EIR) which comprises of all permitted IMEIs under white list, non-conforming phones under gray list and stolen or lost phones under a black list.
Under CEIR, all operators will share these lists with each other, thus making sure that a phone on one’s network does not get activated on the other, ensuring consumer safety and national security.
DoT is coming down hard on fake IMEI numbers and tracking of lost phones with work going on for making tampering of IMEI number a punishable offence with up to three years of imprisonment. The DoT has barred telecom operators from providing service to any mobile phone with fake IMEI number but the operators face problem in identifying handsets with duplicate IMEI number.
Before the nationwide rollout of CEIR across all operators, the department has proposed to have a pilot in Maharashtra, to be done by Pune team of BSNL, which once completed over a six month period, will be rolled out to all operators in Maharashtra. Call detail records of BSNL users of the circle will be utilised for the plan
Source : http://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/
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