Fighting smartphone theft in SA
South Africa is ahead of the curve when it comes to fighting smartphone theft using a national database which blacklists stolen mobile devices and prevents them from being used on any networks in the country.
The United States recently announced that the major carriers and the Federal Communications Commission have a plan for a national database for stolen phones that would prevent their use by new owners.
This initiative follows a surge in violent robberies which involved the theft of smartphones.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the four leading carriers had agreed to set up their own databases of stolen phones within six months, and aim for a common registry within 18 months, allowing those who lose their phones to prevent them from ever being used again.
In South Africa such an initiative has been in place for many years. Cellular operators blacklist handsets that are reported as stolen, damaged or lost using the Equipment Identification Register (EIR).
“Once a handset is blacklisted on the EIR, it cannot be used on any of the networks in South Africa,” explained Cell C spokesperson Karin Fourie.
Vodacom spokesperson Richard Boorman said that apart from using the EIR, they are also part of the Cellphone Theft Committee which is headed by Business Against Crime. “Representatives here include various law enforcement agencies as well as representatives from the networks,” said Boorman.
Vodacom is also part of an international initiative to fight mobile phone theft. “We send blacklisting information to the CEIR (Central Equipment Identify Register). The CEIR enables global blacklisting as the database is available to all operators who belong to the CEIR,” explained Boorman.
Cell C’s Fourie said that they will also soon start to supply its records of blacklisted handsets to the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
Virgin Mobile and 8ta, which are also using the EIR system, said that they will definitely support international initiatives to stop mobile phone theft.
MTN is mum on the issue of stolen mobile phones in SA and abroad, and did not respond to questions on whether they support the international fight against smartphone theft.
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