Track lost mobile easily soon

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Photo for representation only.

New Delhi, July 8:The government will launch a technology solution next month to enable detection of lost or stolen mobile phones that are operating in the country, an official said.

The tracking system would make the detection of stolen mobile phones possible even if the SIM card is removed or unique code IMEI number is changed, the official revealed.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) is ready with the technology and the service is expected to be launched in August. 

“C-DoT is ready with the technology. The telecom department will approach the minister for its launch after the Parliament session. It should be launched next month,” a Department of Telecom (DoT) official told PTI. The ongoing Parliament session will run till July 26.

The DoT had assigned the mobile phone tracking project “Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)”, aimed at bringing down counterfeit cellphones and discouraging theft, to C-DoT in July 2017.

The government has proposed to allocate Rs 15 crore for setting up CEIR in the country.

The CEIR system will block all services on stolen or lost mobile phones on any network even if the SIM card is removed or IMEI number of the handset is changed.

The system is also expected to protect consumer interest and facilitate law enforcement authorities.

It will connect the IMEI database of all mobile operators. It will act as a central system for all network operators to share blacklisted mobile terminals so that devices placed under the said category in one network will not work on the other, even if the SIM card in the device is changed, it said. — PTI

Will block service

  • The system will enable detection of stolen mobile phones even if SIM card is removed or IMEI number is changed
  • It will connect IMEI database of all mobile operators and act as a central system for all operators to share blacklisted mobiles 
  • Services on stolen or lost phones will be blocked