Mobile Phone Security should be a National Priority: Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad--PIB-31-12-2019

News:

The Mobile Security should be our National Priority because the mobile handset became an important tool for all online activities - Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Also, launched a Web Portal called ‘Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)’ for the customers of Delhi to facilitate blocking and tracing of Stolen/Lost Mobile Phones in Delhi.

In the NCR Delhi itself the mobile theft cases are increasing to the tune of 40,000 cases per year and there should be a mechanism to address this problem. He requested the Minister for Communication to consider the integration of Zonal Integrated Police Network (ZIPNET) with the CEIR for better functioning.

The Tele-density in the country has increased to 242 mobiles for 100 populations and the mobile handset became a means to fulfil all day-to-day requirements. Therefore, securing mobile with a system is the need of the hour.

International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is supposed to be a unique identity of a mobile phone device. A phone with one/two slots of SIM Card is programmed with one/two IMEI number as the case may be. IMEI number being programmable, some miscreants do reprogram the IMEI number, which results in cloning of IMEI causing multiple devices with same IMEI number. As on date, there are many cases of clones/duplicated IMEI handsets in the network.

If such IMEI is blocked, a large number of mobile phones will get blocked being handsets with same IMEI causing inconvenience to many genuine customers. Thus, there is a need to eliminate duplicate/fake IMEI mobile phones from the network.

Accordingly, this project called Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system has been undertaken by the DoT for addressing security, theft and other concerns including reprogramming of mobile handsets.



The launch of Project in Delhi will facilitate as follows:



Request for blocking of stolen or lost mobile phone by customers.
Blocking of such mobile phones across mobile networks.
Allowing services to other existing customers have mobile phones with same IMEI number.
Sharing of traceability date with Police Authorities.
Unblocking of recovered/found stolen or lost mobile phones.