Launch of Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

People from the middle and lower middle class are using cellphones that are largely manufactured in China and the demand has flooded in the last few years. Every cellphone has its own unique 15-digit IMEI used to identify an individual mobile station to a GSM or UMTS network. The IMEI number facilitates an important function. It easily identifies a mobile phone being used on a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network. The IMEI is a useful tool to stop a phone that is stolen from accessing a network and being used but unfortunately hundreds of Chinese mobile phones containing same serial number of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) are being imported to Pakistan. Mobile phone owners that have their phones stolen can contact Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which was established to regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecom services. People can ask PTA to ban or shut off a phone using its IMEI number. With an IMEI number, the phone can be banned from the network quickly and easily.

Ashiq Hussain, owner of Visual Communication, said he saw the problem coming. “It is only a matter of time before these people who buy fake phones suffer. Buyers of fake phones are at a losing end,” he added.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has launched Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in collaboration with 3g Technologies in which users must register their cellular devices with the authority. PTA has asked all the users to register their phones by the given date or they will be blocked by PTA. The system will help in identifying the sub-standard, fake or illegal mobile phones and Pakistan will be able to stop illegal imports and facilitate legitimate device imports and improve overall security situation of Pakistan. The system will combat the use of smuggled or counterfeit sets that reduce tax revenues of the state.

Users can register their device via SMS by sending the IMEI number to 8484. Device’s IMEI number can be checked by dialing #06#*. Moreover, registration can also be done via website or mobile application. The four types of responses that can be received by a subscriber inquiring about the status of the IMEI include “compliant devices”, which are the PTA-approved devices legally imported into Pakistan. The other response is “valid devices”, which are the ones having valid IMEIs but which are not PTA-approved. To facilitate such users, PTA will auto-register the IMEIs active on mobile networks before Oct 20, and their status will be compliant after the said date. The “non-compliant” devices are those where the IMEI is either not allocated by GSMA or is duplicated. To facilitate such users, PTA will auto-pair all such IMEIs active on mobile networks with specific SIMs before given date. After that date, such users will be able to use their devices with paired SIMs only. Finally, the “blocked devices” message indicates that the IMEI is blocked as this IMEI has been reported stolen earlier.

However, consumers who insert a sim card after given date will be required to register the phone’s IMEI with PTA within two weeks. Similarly, consumers who purchase handsets abroad will have to register their phones in Pakistan by logging into the PTA DIRBS website.

Device identification system aims to tackle use of fake or smuggled sets which pose health hazards. According to PTA officials, “After coming into effect the system could help the government increase revenues from $170 million to $200m on imported phone sets.”