Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) is pushing against counterfeit phones in the country. This move follows the increased influx of fake phones in the past months.
The 2017/18 National Information Technology Authority’s National IT Survey showed that about 24.8 million Ugandans own mobile phones. As a result, UCC has installed central equipment for identity registry.
The central equipment will be linked to each of the Mobile Network Operator’s telecommunication system. Ibrahim Bbosa, Director of Public and Corporate Affairs said the system is currently analyzing both the number of genuine and fake phones.
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Although the central equipment will not stop the use of counterfeit phones in the country, it will prevent the spread of more counterfeit phones. UCC is working with both the Uganda Revenue Authority and Uganda National Bureau of Standards to disallow the importation of substandard phones.
To detect fake mobile phones, the central equipment clusters mobile users under three separate lists. The white list will document genuine phones while the grey list will be for phones that are roaming. The black list will blacklist counterfeit phones from operating on any network.
To authentic a mobile phone, the user has to imprint the IMEI code on the system. UCC is also in touch with an undisclosed Mobile Network Operator to provide a shortcode to be used to verify devices.
The Commission is carrying out a sensitization exercise to create awareness in the country. The technology is still under test and the deadline for counterfeit phone usage in the country is 2024.
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