Indonesia to Launch DIRBS to Eliminate Illegal Cellphones in the Country

The Government of Indonesia has finalized a system to eliminate illegal cellphones in the country. It is working with relevant stakeholders to fine tune a draft regulation in order to curb the use of illegal mobile phones. It will become mandatory for the unique 15-digit international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number to be registered with the authorities. The IMEI number is assigned to every mobile phone. The unregistered phone will not be able to connect to cellular networks of Local operators.

Indonesia to Launch DIRBS to Eliminate Illegal Cellphones in the Country

Director of electronics and telematics at the Ministry of Industry, Janu Suryanto said:

“[Mobile phone] operators will have to eliminate illegal mobile phones because the price difference between legal and illegal mobile phones on e-commerce platforms is between Rp 2 million and Rp 3 million [$141-$212],”

The Indonesian’s industry ministry has decided to start soon a device identification, registration and blocking system (DIRBS) that will help in detecting illegal mobile phones. The mobile phones that are imported from abroad will have to be reported to the authorities in order to ensure that these are not counterfeit and tax and duties are paid.

All IMEI numbers will be registered on a database maintained by the Ministry of Industry. The ministry, mobile chipmaker Qualcomm and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) are working together for the successful implementation of the system.

Also Read: Mobile Registration Through PTA’s Two Steps Authentication Process (Guide)

To draft the new regulation, the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Ministry of Trade have collaborated with each other. The regulation would force manufacturers to source some of their materials locally. According to the Industry Minister Airlangga Hartanto that in 2017, about 20 percent of mobile phones, which were functional, in Indonesia were either fake or smuggled.

Source: Jakarta Globe