We’ve probably heard or read this before about UCC threatening to ban fake phones across the country. The fake phone switch off discussion is one that keeps lingering around as more and more deadlines are set but never met, with logistical and legislative hurdles being sited as obstacles.
However, UCC has finally arrived to a deadline or sort of, to switch off fake phones after the election period according to Daily Monitor. There was no mention of particular dates but that points to sometime next year.
Related: UCC in final stages of switching off fake phones
Speaking of logistical hurdles, last UCC wanted to switch off fake phones, it was identified that the central equipment identity registry (CEIR) question was yet to be closed but as of this writing, UCC’s spokes Ibrahim Bosa said the registry is now interconnected to all telecom networks and a picture has been drawn on how many fake phones are in the market, and these are in the region of 2.5M.
He added on that new counterfeit phones will not be able to connect or make calls once the system is live.
Why the switch off you might ask? Well, besides the loss of revenue to the telecoms, the taxman, genuine phone importers, and associated health and environmental issues, these phones are usually used by criminals to evade law enforcement given the phones can’t be traced by the CEIR without valid IMEI numbers. This is partly why the ban is imminent.
Also Read: Dangers of using substandard or fake phones
If the switch off is effected, Uganda will join its regional counterparts like Kenya and Tanzania that already implemented switch years ago.
