25 million chinese handsets blocked in India
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 25 million Chinese-made mobile phones were banned by Indian authorities on Tuesday due to the lack of International Mobile Equipment Identification or IMEI number.
Telecom ministry officials said that low quality Chinese phones don’t have this 15 digit number needed to trace calls after a government crackdown on the handsets. Subsequently, they have asked all the service providers to block services to 25 million cell phones as it poses security threats.
The IMEI number helps in the identification of the calls received and made on a phone. It also provides information on the manufacturer and the handset type. Generally, when the phones are first activated, they automatically register this number with service providers.
The ministry has given two week deadline to all the customers with such phones to switch to a valid handset. They can manually register their phone with their service provider and buy an IMEI for INR199 ($4).
COAI or the Cellular Operators Association of India said it was adhering to the telecom ministry orders but at the same time they wanted the deadline to be extended. However, their request has been declined and they are sticking to the present deadline.
Tanzania plans to introduce SIM card registration bill
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The government of Tanzania has revealed its plans to launch new legislation to help local law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal usage of mobile phones in the nation. According to a media report, the government intends to use various technologies which can track down people who use the phones for criminal purposes. Professor Peter Msolla, the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, revealed the government will soon table a bill in the National Assembly for the establishment of a Central Equipment Identification Register (CEIR).
Once the bill is approved, the mobile phones users will have to register for SIM card and give documents to confirm their identity before buying the line.
On the other hand, it is being criticised that the recent influx of Chinese handsets which do not always carry the IMEI number, will hamper the state’s efforts to crack down on mobile phone related crime.
