The wireless phone subscriber base is likely to have shrunk by at least 24 million late on Monday, the last day for mobile handset users to comply with the government’s IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) guideline.
Earlier, worried about the security implications of handsets without genuine and authenticated IMEI numbers, the government had asked mobile operators not to allow calls from handsets embedded with fake IMEI numbers or without any such number after November 30. Many of these handsets are made in China and sold in the grey market.
The Indian authorities feel handsets without the IMEI number could be used for terrorist activities. A genuine number helps trace mobile calls. Many countries use it to curb phone theft.
The GSMA (Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association) is the only body which supplies the IMEI numbers to mobile handset manufacturers worldwide through its reporting bodies. It also maintains a database of genuine IMEI numbers. This is activated and updated every 15 days.
The mobile phone subscriber base is likely to take a hit from the government’s decision.
As of October 31 this year, the total subscriber base in India was 525.65 million. Of this, 488.4 million were mobile phone users.
Although no official figure is available for handsets without IMEI numbers or with fake IMEI numbers, industry representatives indicate at least 20 million disconnections due to the government’s guideline.
Admitting that it was difficult to provide a number, Pankaj Mahindroo, president of Indian Cellular Association (ICA), told DNA that “around five to eight per cent of wireless subscribers may end up getting disconnected’’. It translates to 24 million to 39 million connections, an industry source pointed out.
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