20 million mobile users to go off air tomorrow

I totally support the deadline. These phones are untraceable. And plus it voids the international security. The GSM put it mandatory in its specifications to have a "BURNED-IN IMEI No." that cannot be altered.


These handsets were just violating it ,thus saving the cost for registration of new IMEI no. I am very happy the DOT(Deptt. of Telecom ) is doing great work.


PS: I had a Chinese handset that went offline on 1st Dec even when it showed a IMEI No. when pressing the required digits(*#06#)


Anirudh Gargi

Its bad that they didn't extend the deadline for these mobiles to go off air, 20 million is not small number and there were very less outlets where these new IMEI numbers were given.

This is a good move from IMEI and I totally agree with Mr. Abraham paul that its the negligence of the telecom providers here we need to blame, where in the first place they went ahead and gave service to those mobile phones which were not having IMEI numbers in the first place.

It is the primary responsibility of the Service Providers to ensure that no service is provided to mobile phones without IMEI number. it shows how irresposible the private operators are when it comes to security standards and quality of service. 

Yes, it is a righ move. Most of the people doesn't know about IMEI mumber. They come to know only when their service provider block their mobile. 

I think DOT/Service provider should create awarness about IMEI number and it's advantages by way of advertisemnt.

Its good that Dot has come up with this as it was getting very difficult to track these phones and on many occassions we saw these phones being used for anti social elements and nobody was able to track them, so this is a good move according to me by removing all the connections where mobile phones are not having IMEI numbers, all those chinese handsets which were being sold in black market will now rest in peace I guess.