BTRC records 13.5cr handsets in IMEI database in two years – National – observerbd.com
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has enlisted 13.53 crore handsets in its NOC Automation and IMEI Database (NAID) since its launch in January last year to facilitate customers to check the legality of handsets before purchasing.
The telecom regulator disclosed the information at an agreement signing ceremony with a joint venture entity — Synesis IT Limited, Radisson and Computer World — to install National Equipment Identity Register system on Wednesday at its office in Dhaka.
BTRC officials at the event informed that the installation of the system would be completed by March, 2021.
BTRC’s NAID system and NEIR and telecom operators’ EIR system would work as an integrated system. NEIR would be directly connected to the telcos’ EIR system. NEIR would confirm the telcos’ EIR system about the originality of handsets thus allowing the telecom operators to provide service to customers to access to the network.
On November 5 this year, the commission awarded the job of setting up the NEIR system to the joint venture entity at a cost of Tk 29.81 crore to stop illegal mobile handset usage, to stopping misuse of handsets and leverage government’s revenue earnings from the handset sales.
Once the system is installed, it would bar all kinds of illegal handsets or SIM-based devices from accessing telecom networks.
BTRC Director General Brigadier General Md Shahidul Alam, vice-chairman Subrata Roy Maitra, director Lieutenant Colonel Mohammod Faisal, and deputy director Zakir Hossain Khan, among others, were present at the event.
At the event, BTRC chairman Md Jahurul Haque said that the government would earn an additional Tk 4,000 crore in revenues once the installation of the NEIR system is complete.
He also expected that the joint venture company, assigned to install the system, would be able to complete their task within the timeframe.
The BTRC officials also informed that the handsets, which would be brought in the country from abroad, will be activated through NEIR web portal based on purchase documents.
The handsets which would be brought in the country from abroad and or received as gifts will be allowed to access the telecom network upon submission of adequate documents.
