Mobile operators favour the idea to start simultaneously disconnecting mobile phones with not-registered IMEI codes.
“All operators should introduce mechanisms required for the project and begin sending [notification] SMSes at the same time, otherwise those who will do this first will be in unequal competition condition as regards to other operators, since a number of subscribers may leave them upon receiving such SMSes,” Ukrainian News has learned from the press service of mobile communications operator Kyivstar.
A spokesman from the press service adds, at the moment Kyivstar is procuring relevant equipment and is reconciling lists of ‘grey’ mobile terminals with the National Communications Regulatory Commission.
Public relations service of a mobile operator Ukrainian RadioSystems (Beeline brand name) also says it is very important that operators commence the disconnection synchronously.
“Practical realisation of the project of disconnecting ‘grey’ phones is only possible when all the market players are technically prepared at the same time,” reads a statement made by the Beeline press service.
The operator did not give any precise terms of starting sending notification SMSes.
The press service of Ukrainian Mobile Communications, a mobile operator rendering its services under the MTS brand, also thinks that disconnection of not-registered phones must be simultaneous. They opine, the system of sending notification SMSes and subsequent disconnection of ‘grey’ mobile phones may be commissioned by the end of 2010.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the National Communications Regulatory Commission in November 2009 predicted that mobile operators would begin disconnecting phones with not-registered IMEI codes in the first quarter of 2010.
On November 16, 2009, public enterprise Ukrainian State Centre for Radio Frequencies (Ukrchastotnahliad) handed over the lists of mobile phones with not-registered IMEI codes to mobile operators.
In June 2009, Ukrchastotnahliad put into operation an information system for registration of mobile phones by IMEI codes.
The National Communications Regulatory Commission on February 5, 2009 released order No 1339, that took force on March 28, 2009, to ban selling mobile phones with not-registered IMEI codes from July 2009.
