NTC to require prior registration of cellphone dealers to curb theft

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued two new circulars requiring mobile phone dealers and service centers to register first with the commission before they can engage in business, a move intended to stop the proliferation of cellphone theft.

The first circular governs the repair, servicing and maintenance of mobile phones units in the country. It also prohibits mobile phone service centers from altering the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number or unblocking blocked subscriber identification module or SIM cards.

It has been the practice among thieves or buyers of illegally-acquired cellphones to bring the stolen units to a service center to have the phones’ IMEI codes altered after the rightful owners have reported to have the number blocked by the NTC. Once the IMEI is changed, the phone can be used again.

Under the new rules, no service center shall keep an inventory of mobile phone units, parts and accessories thereof, acquired from any unauthorized or illegal source. An illegally-acquired mobile phone shall include, among others, lost or stolen mobile phones and mobile phones not type-approved/type-accepted by the NTC.

All existing centers or establishments doing repair, servicing and maintenance of mobile phone units prior to the promulgation of this circular shall, within 30 days from effectivity of the circular, apply and secure the required permit to be an authorized mobile phone service center (MPSC).

Failure to do so shall subject any person or entity operating any center or establishment to closure and the imposition of appropriate fines until the required permit is secured.

An MPSC shall not accept for repair, servicing or maintenance mobile phone units, parts and accessories thereof, that come from any unauthorized or illegal source. The MPSC shall secure from the commission an updated list of blocked IMEI at the start of each month.

The new rule likewise prohibits an MPSC from possessing any equipment and/or software program used for altering the IMEI code or number of any mobile phone units.

The second circular, meanwhile, provides for additional rules and regulations on the purchase, sale, lease, and/or retail of mobile phones.

It requires persons engaged in the business of mobile phone dealership (MPD) to first secure the necessary permit from the NTC prior to operation.

No MPD shall keep on stock mobile phones which are illegally acquired, and/or mobile phones without NTC type-approval/type acceptance labels/stickers.

The dealer shall also register with the commission all available mobile phone units in their stock and/or possession by submitting the list of its IMEI code on a monthly basis. Likewise, they shall also submit a list of all available SIM numbers in their stock and/or possession.

All existing establishments primarily doing the business of purchasing, selling, leasing and/or retailing mobile phones without valid permits or accreditation from the NTC shall, within 30 days from effectivity of this circular, apply and secure the permits required. Failure to do so, shall mean closure and the imposition of appropriate fines until the required permit is secured.

Under the new rules, an MPD shall not acquire, purchase, sell, lease and/or retail mobile phones from any unauthorized or illegal source. They are also prohibited from advertising the purchase, sale, lease and/or retail of mobile phone units, parts and accessories coming from any unauthorized or illegal source.