The latest news from the government is the launch of a new portal aimed at blocking and tracing stolen or lost mobile phones. This initiative, which was first rolled out in Mumbai in September 2019, has now been extended to Delhi-NCR. The rest of the country can expect access to the service in 2020.
The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) System
It’s essential to understand that this project is not a standalone innovation. The supporting backbone of this initiative is the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system. The telecom department had established this system to address various issues such as security, theft, and other concerns including reprogramming of mobile handsets.
The portal will serve multiple purposes. It can process requests for blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones made by customers. It enables services to other existing customers who have mobile phones with the same International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The portal can share traceability data with police authorities, and it can assist in the unblocking of recovered phones.
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)
Every phone or mobile broadband device comes with a unique 15-digit code called the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). This code is an exclusive identifier for the device. Mobile phone manufacturers assign IMEI numbers to each device, falling within ranges allotted to them by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association. Dual-SIM phones will host two different IMEI numbers.
There is, however, a loophole that criminals can exploit. The IMEI number is programmable, allowing wrongdoers to reprogram the 15-digit unique number, resulting in the cloning of the IMEI. What follows is the emergence of multiple phone devices and hundreds of numbers sharing the same IMEI number. Should such an IMEI be blocked, a vast number of mobile phones risk becoming blocked as well, causing inconvenience to genuine customers.
A Safer Way Forward
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| New Software Feature | Allows an individual phone to be blocked even if it is on a cloned IMEI number. |
| Centralised Nature of Database | All the operators can block the particular stolen or lost device across the country |
| Beneficiary | This effects even though the phone is being serviced by one particular operator. |
Blocking Stolen or Lost Devices: How It Works
The software that the government has now developed caters to the problem of cloned IMEIs. With this technology, it’s possible to block an individual phone, even if it exists under a cloned IMEI number. The centralised nature of the register or database also enables all operators to block a specific stolen or lost device across the country. This functionality remains applicable irrespective of whether the phone is being serviced by a particular operator.
