DoT likely to start tracking system for lost mobiles next month

The government will launch a technology solution next month to enable detection of lost or stolen mobile phones that are operating in the country, an official said.

The tracking system would make the detection of stolenmobile phones possible even if the SIM card is removed or unique code IMEInumber is changed, the official revealed.

   

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) is readywith the technology and the service is expected to be launched in August.

“C-DoT is ready with the technology. The telecomdepartment will approach the minister for its launch after the Parliamentsession. It should be launched in the next month,” a DoT official toldPTI.

The ongoing Parliament session will run till July 26.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) had assigned the mobilephone tracking project “Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)”aimed at bringing down counterfeit cellphones and discouraging theft to C-DoTin July 2017.

The government has proposed to allocate Rs 15 crore forsetting up CEIR in the country that will bring down the number of counterfeithandsets and discourage theft.

The CEIR system will block all services on stolen or lostmobile phones on any network even if the SIM card is removed or IMEI number ofthe handset is changed.

The system is also expected to protect consumer interest andfacilitate law enforcement authorities for lawful interception.

It will connect the IMEI database of all mobile operators.It will act as a central system for all network operators to share blacklistedmobile terminals so that devices placed under the said category in one networkwill not work on the other, even if the SIM card in the device is changed, itsaid.

IMEI number – a unique 15-digit serial number of mobiledevices – is allocated by global industry body GSMA and bodies authorised byit. When a mobile phone is lost, the victim is required to mention the IMEInumber of the handset for tracking.”The pilot project (of CEIR) was carriedout in Maharashtra,” the official said.

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