TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Informatics and Communication Ministry (Kominfo) on Sunday started to send text messages to the public regarding the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) regulation they imposed on April 18. The IMEI policy is meant to combat the lucrative unregistered illegal phone market in Indonesia.

Kominfo spokesperson confirmed that the ministry has distributed text messages to registered and legal mobile phone users and notes that the wave of text confirmations will gradually continue for the next two weeks.

The text messages read: “Your gadget’s IMEI has been listed in our system. Don’t worry and stay home.”

Prior to receiving these text confirmation, Kominfo’s director-general of post resources and devices, Ismail, announced in a written statement that users would receive confirmation without having to register the gadgets themselves.

Ismail said that the new IMEI regulation will not affect mobile phone users that have been linked to the national cellular network prior to April 18 and that the regulation will affect mobile phone users since it was imposed two days ago.

In terms of online mobile phone purchases made prior to April 18, Kominfo strongly reminds people to make sure that the device they have bought is equipped with legally-registered IMEI and check its legality in the Kominfo official website.

ANTARA