PTA formally announces start of DIRBS
PHOTO: EXPRESS
The move comes as the government looks to curb tax evasion as well as mobile theft.
The DIRBS will enable users to pair their device with the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), which would then become the phone’s identity. Through the system, the PTA would maintain a database of all mobile phones in the country.
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Additionally, telecom consumers can also verify the authenticity of their mobile devices via SMS or check the IMEI status by logging on the DIRBS website or mobile application.
The PTA will carry out the task in two phases. In the first phase, the PTA will instantly disable stolen and snatched phones. In the second round, after one and a half months, it will make a list of smuggled mobiles. These devices will remain functional but only with the owner, and would become non-transferable to another user.
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Once the menace of mobile smuggling is curbed, tax income will rise as more mobiles will enter the market through the legal channel. Market sources estimate that handsets worth $10 million are smuggled into the country, causing a huge revenue loss to the government. The system will make the environment conducive for legal businesses.
“Today, mobile operators have increased coverage to over 65% of the population,” said PTA Chairman Mohammad Naveed while launching the system at PTA Headquarters Islamabad. “Broadband subscribers that stood at 1.3 million till 2014 have today (2018) crossed a milestone of 50 million with mobile broadband speed crossing 20 Mbs (download) and fixed broadband speed crossing 100 Mbps (download).”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2018.
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