Lanka to block mobile phones illegally imported
A new system to block illegally imported mobile phones will be introduced by this Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), Your Island newspaper reported.
All imported mobile phones should be registered with this TRC, said TRC Director General Anusha Pelpita on Tuesday (16) on the Island adding that they were forced to meet certain safety regulations.
“The commission gives a certain time period regarding registration. Those who fail to visit the TRC’s rules will face permanent disabling with their phones by blocking the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers from your networks as the TRC possessed all the IMEI numbers of phones imported to the country, ” said Pelpita.
He explained that disrupting the cellular phone business was not the goal of the TRC but to regulate it to maintain high standards and protect buyers.
An estimated eight million from the 15 million phones currently used in the country had been illegally imported, stressed Pelpita and said thereby depriving the us government of taxes.
Around 15 per cent tax on each phone must be paid by the genuine cellular phone importers and according to your ex many traders avoid purchasing this TRC’s annual permit of Rs10, 000/- to offer mobile phones.
In future, consumers of mobile phones can verify whether the equipment they purchased had been duly registered or not, by using an SMS facility, Pelpita included.
