Fake handsets to be denied accessing networks from June next year

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is set to launch the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) service by June next year to prevent the use of fake or clone handsets.

In this regard, the telecom regulator on Wednesday signed an agreement with the joint venture entity of Synesis IT Limited, Radisson and Computer World.

BTRC officials said from June next year all fake handsets will automatically be disconnected from networks.

The NEIR will contain the information of all the legal mobile handsets in the country. If any phone is not in the register, it will not be able to get network of any mobile phone operators.

The BTRC in a notice in July asked mobile phone users to check the authenticity of their mobile handsets before purchase and warned that the Commission would disconnect the fake handsets once the NEIR comes into operation.

“Customers are advised to check the authenticity before buying handsets. In the message option of any phone, customers should type KYD15-digit IMEI number and send it to 16002 to get the proper information about the handset,” said the BTRC notice issued on July 29.

“Also, customers can know IMEI information by dialling *#06#,” reads the notice.

IMEI number is a unique number to mark a handset.

BTRC officials say the clone IMEI handsets come mostly through illegal channels and used for illegal activities as those could not be tracked.

In January this year, BTRC seized 700 mobile phone handsets, which were imported illegally, during raids on Eastern Plaza and Motalib Plaza shopping complexes in the capital.