— PTA imposes deadline for device registration
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to curb the rampant use of unregistered mobile devices paired with SCOM (Special Communication Organization) SIMs in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Kashmir (AJK), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern ultimatum. Effective from September 1, 2023, all mobile devices must be registered with the PTA, failing which local SIMs will be deactivated on unregistered devices.
The decision comes as an increasing number of unregistered mobile phones, largely smuggled and thus avoiding import duties and PTA registration fees, flood the regions of GB and AJK. This thriving market for illicit devices is thriving due to the absence of the Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) in these territories.
To address this concern, PTA has introduced the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in GB and AJK. The DIRBS system ensures the usage of legitimate mobile devices compliant with technical standards and regulations. Mobile devices active on local GSM networks in AJK and GB until September 1, 2023, will be paired with active phone numbers throughout their useful lifespan.
Industry insiders have estimated that over 100,000 smuggled mobile phones are currently in use in GB and AJK, primarily linked to the SCOM network. This startling figure is attributed to the lower cost of smuggled phones in comparison to locally manufactured or imported devices, as well as the lack of regulatory enforcement in these regions.
Mr. Manzar Shigri, a local businessman in Gilgit, emphasized that smuggled or non-duty paid phones are mainly compatible with the SCOM network, as it is the predominant mobile operator in GB and AJK. He noted that other major network operators like Telenor, ZONG, and Jazz are not operational on the same phone sets.
To address this discrepancy, PTA and the Ministry of IT and Telecom have reached out to the Cabinet Division, urging the integration of SCOM into the DIRBS system. Once this integration is approved, it is expected to extend the regulatory reach of DIRBS to SCOM connections as well, discouraging the use of unregistered devices.
The introduction of the DIRBS system was initially aimed at safeguarding local mobile device manufacturing by imposing import duties on mobile sets and deterring smuggling. Integration of SCOM into the DIRBS system is expected to substantially reduce the usage of smuggled phones in GB and AJK, generating additional revenue through import duties.
PTA’s move to enforce device registration in GB and AJK represents a significant step towards curbing the use of unregistered mobile devices and ensuring compliance with the country’s telecommunications regulations. With the integration of SCOM into the DIRBS system, the widespread issue of unregistered phones is poised to witness a marked decline, ultimately benefiting the government’s revenue stream and contributing to a more controlled and secure mobile communications landscape.
