The regulatory body BTRC on Thursday launched the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on a trial basis to provide order and security in the sector by registering mobile handsets used in the country after SIMs.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated the program virtually. The ministry, BTRC and operators are working together to ensure that the people do not suffer through these activities, the minister said.
He said that the unauthorized phones will not be switched off from today. This is an interim activity. Later it will be decided which sets will be closed.
Expressing his intention to set a precedent in the world through this service, Mustafa Jabbar warned the BTRC to register the phones used till midnight on June 30. He also said that in this case, it is necessary to ensure that no one is harassed.
Welcoming the gathering, BTRC Commissioner AKM Shahiduzzaman said that Bangladesh has started a new chapter in the digital revolution through this program.
After that Brigadier General Md. Shahidul Alam, Director General of Spectrum Division of BTRC raised the technical issues. In response to a question from reporters, he said that on the advice of the minister, customers will be given a message every 30 days instead of 10 days after the new set is connected to the network during registration.
Representatives of Banglalink, Grameenphone, Robi and Synesis IT spoke on behalf of mobile operators on how they are implementing NEIA at the press conference.
Speaking on behalf of the operators, Shahab Uddin, managing director of state-owned telephone operator Teletalk, said they would also be a part of the process by next September.
Yasir Ajman, Managing Director of Grameenphone, described the event as a “milestone” and a day of joy and celebration.
Telecommunications Secretary Afzal Hossain said that these activities will play an important role in reducing cybercrime in the country.
BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder presided over the function while Zakir Hossain Khan, Deputy Director of BTRC conducted the function. BTRC Vice President Subrata Kumar Roy, Commissioner and Director General of the organization and BTCL Managing Director Md. Rafiqul Matin and SM Farhad, Secretary-General of AMTOB, an association of mobile operators, were also present.
Tags: NEIRBTRCMobile registration