Guidelines on blocking lost handsets by dec: TRAI

Stealing of telephone handsets may soon become a history. Next month, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to release its recommendations on blocking lost and stolen mobile handsets.

Stealing of telephone handsets may soon become a history. Next month, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to release its recommendations on blocking lost and stolen mobile handsets.

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The regulator has already floated a consultation paper on this and has received comments from various stakeholders.

Once implemented, this regulation will discourage the present rampant theft of handsets.

“There needs to be infrastructure in place similar to that for stopping pesky calls. Trai will come out with recommendations on ways to block lost or theft mobile phones using International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number within a month,” a Trai official said.

IMEI is a unique serial number that identifies the handset. It is stored in the equipment identity register (EIR) database of the service provider.

At present, there is no mechanism to block a mobile phone in case it is lost. “Though there are chances that people will come out with some techniques to change the IMEI, theft of stolen phones will stop drastically,” said the official.