In the wake of several terror attacks in various cities across the country, the Government of India has decided to take several initiatives so as to ban the use of mobile handsets without IMEI or ESN numbers. Terrorists these days are using imported handsets, especially Chinese-made, causing serious security concern.
Unidentified Subscriber’s Identity Module (SIM), mobile phones without International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) – a unique 15-digit code that comes with every mobile and helps uniquely identify the handset used for GSM network – or the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) for CDMA network are essentials in tracing the handset user.
The Home Ministry on Wednesday directed the Department of Telecom (DoT) to re-exercise the verification of SIMs and to rule out the use of mobile handsets without having proper IMEI or ESN number. The investigating agencies have found that terrorists have been using ‘these’ mobile phones in their indecent activities with no proper identification numbers.
DoT has also been asked to make a provision regarding maintaining an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) by all mobile operators, so that the communication can be checked in all mobile phones having either all zeros in IMEI or no IMEI for GSM network and ESN for CDMA network.
Moreover, the government has also instructed DoT to devise an inclusive policy to scrutinize and interrupt the use of satellite phone as it (Satellite phone) can be used from anywhere without the need of interconnectivity with the domestic network.
If the Telecom Ministry formulates a policy to prohibit such mobile phones having all zeros in IMEI or no IMEI/ ESN number, there are as many as 25-millions of Chinese mobile handsets can be turned into garbage, market experts believe.
The Ministry has directed DoT to set a deadline by January 06, 2009 to make the provision of EIR and after that all ‘so called’ illegal handsets would not more than a worthless electronic instrument. But on the other hand, the mobile operators have asked the government to extend the deadline as they are trying to find out solutions for monitoring such mobile phones.
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