ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is set to launch themobile Devices Identification Registration and Blocking Regulations System(DIRBS) on Thursday.
The DIRBS system would allow PTA to block blocked and stolen phones in useacross Pakistan which would include ones with duplicate or non-standardidentifiers.
The launch ceremony for DIRBS is set to be held on Thursday where PTA willalso celebrate the milestone of 50 million broadband users reached recentlyacross Pakistan.
With the advent of 3G/4G data services in April 2014, smartphonepenetration/adoption has surged resulting in inundation of smartphones,tablets and other devices in Pakistan. International Mobile EquipmentIdentity (IMEI) number of the phone will be used to identify with otheridentifiers to find out non-compliant devices.
Once the DIRBS system gets activated by PTA and the database starts addingstolen, smuggled and counterfeit devices IMEI’s, this would render thedevices useless and would be unable to connect to local mobile networks.
All those reported stolen and smuggled handsets would become blacklisted inPTA’s database which would render the devices useless. Not only would thiscurb imports of mobile devices via illegal channels but also give the usersreassurances that the phones they are using are approved by PTA.
Thriving black-market of stolen and smuggled smartphones is the target ofDIRBS and would result in rising revenues and taxes for the government.