On September 30th, 2012, approximately about 1.5 million fake mobile phones in the Kenyan market were switched off by mobile service providers on order by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). This went into the various initiatives to prevent crime perpetrated by wrong personification using mobile phones, such as money transfer fraud, threat text messages and so on. The exercise was conducted by comparing and handset’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number - the unique identifier for each phone comparable to a MAC address for computers – with an international database that has been developed by manufacturers. If a person’s phone IMEI number does not exist in this database, the handset is deemed fake and deregistered by the mobile service provider. The current challenge for CCK is the ‘creative’ Kenyans who are changing the IMEIs of the fake phones that have already been switched off thus reconnecting to mobile service provider. Such individuals now stand a jail term of not less than five years or a fine of not less than Sh1 million or both according to the law.
Having a genuine IMEI on your phone has some benefits. The IMEI is a number, usually unique, to identify mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone. The IMEI number helps a service provider track a mobile phone; identify the location, incoming calls and contacts. IMEI is a structural 15 digit number that indicates the origin, model, and serial number of the device. When a subscriber loses a phone and requests the service provider to block its usage, the provider adds the IMEI to an Equipment Identity Register which blacklists the mobile device and renders it useless. Many providers can share information on stolen or blocked mobile devices by having a Central Equipment Identity Register; which is essentially a database of the IMEI numbers of blacklisted by many service providers. This improves users' security by switching off stolen phones, making them useless for mobile phone thieves and thus less likely to be stolen in the first place. Previously, the stolen phone’s IMEI number could be changed to use the phone again. This challenge has been overcome by blocking all IMEIs that are not genuine. In fact, some subscribers that had their phones block in September had genuine phones but with fake IMEIs. Makes sense? The phones had been stolen.
The next phase of the switch-off, which is said to start in January, will target unregistered SIM cards. The activity may affect revenue from mobile money transfer, voice and data services for service providers. To this end, CCK has signed a memorandum of understanding and set a budget to meet the costs incurred by providers in effecting the switch-off. However, the consumers affected by the exercise will not be compensated, causing uproar by the Consumers Federation of Kenya. Switching off of unregistered SIM cards is definitely paramount in fighting crime. In the past, the police commissioner had expressed his concerns in the ability of criminals to purchase and use multiple unregistered SIM cards thus camouflaging their identity. With registered SIM cards, suspicious activity can easily be traced to the owner of the mobile device. As we approach the elections, it will be important to identity individuals who send hate messages. Without SIM registration, this task is impossible. Does SIM registration intrude into your privacy? Yes it does, but so does bank account details, Kenya Revenue Authority certificate, Insurance Cover details and so on. If well managed, demographic information that is shared during SIM registration can provide reference in make certain beneficial policies.
Other countries in the region also plan to follow the Kenyan example. In Rwanda, for instance, the Rwanda’s telecommunications regulatory body, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), intends to get rid of the counterfeit handsets in widespread use in the country at approximately 47.5 percent. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), on the other hand, has opted to first educate the public on the need to buy genuine mobile phones before embarking on the switch-off exercise. Uganda has witnessed an upsurge in the number of fake mobile devices in her market. The regulatory body, Uganda Communication Commission, banned the importation of fake phones and has plans to start blocking counterfeit mobile phones from the 30th November. Fake phones that have been switched off in the region can be recycled. According to Bruce Howe, General Manager for Nokia East Africa, for every one million phones recycled, it is possible to recover nearly 35kg of gold and 350kg of silver, which can be re-used in the production of future electronic goods. This is an opportunity for the industrialists! The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) already engaged service providers to encourage consumers to dispose of these fake handsets in a responsible manner by recycling them.
