Dhaka Bureau: The government has decided to register mobile handsets again this year. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Agency (BTRC) took the initiative of registration in 2021 to ensure the revenue of bringing mobile sets illegally. Later, the registration decision was canceled to avoid customer suffering due to the complexity of the registration process. Now the government is going to start the registration of mobile phone sets again.
After the introduction of the NEIR system, the number of illegal mobile phone entries into the country almost went down to zero. This brought relief to the country’s mobile phone manufacturers. Before phone set registration, the gray market (mobiles that entered the country illegally) accounted for more than half of the total mobile market (53 percent). When this system is introduced, buyers are forced to buy mobile phones made in the country through legitimate channels. The gray market suddenly became almost empty.
In this context, Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Commissioner of the Spectrum Management Department of the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency (BTRC), said that a decision has been taken to register mobile handsets again this year. The mobile phone set registration system will start on July 1.
Earlier, in an exchange meeting at BTRC on January 23, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak said, ‘Increasing local production, employment, and exports, no one should use illegal mobile handsets except registered and valid mobile phones for crime control. For this, the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) should be implemented.
Meanwhile, the analysts advise tightening the entry of illegal mobile devices without harassing the customers. Technology experts say that the country’s ports should be strengthened to prevent the import of illegal mobile sets. The market should be controlled without suffering customers. Mobile set manufacturers and importers say that 46 percent of mobile sets in the country are illegal. If the decision is effective, this sector will be strengthened.
