IMEI Regulation to Be Ratified on August 17: Kominfo
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2 August 2019 18:11 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government is still drafting a regulation on the validation of cell phones through International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) as an effort to suppress the distribution of illegal cell phones from the black market.
The regulation is set by three ministries, viz. the Communication and Information Ministry (Kominfo), the Industry Ministry, and the Trade Ministry.
Kominfo Minister Rudiantara said the bill was scheduled to be ratified in mid-August 2019. “We target to use the momentum of August 17, the Independence Day,” said Rudiantara at his office, on Jalan Medan Merdeka, Friday, August 2.
The minister explained curbing the black market would yield beneficial impacts on the growth of the mobile phone industry. Besides, it has the potential to boost tax income. According to him, the illegal distribution has harmed the industry's ecosystem thus far.
After the bill is implemented, the activation of a phone must be through a pairing system between the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN) and the SIM card. This system, Rudiantara added, used to be applied by telecommunication firm Satelindo in 1995.
Based on the Indonesia Cell Phone Association (APSI) data, the total sales of cell phones in the country reached 45 million units, and 20-30 percent of which hailed from the black market.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
