UCC sets new deadline for counterfeit phones

A collection of mobile phones. Counterfeit phones have flooded the Ugandan market, prompting communications regulator UCC to set a deadline for blocking their usage. PHOTO. BY FAISWAL KASIRYE. 

By NICHOLAS KALUNGI

Posted  Friday, December 21  2012 at  02:00

In Summary

UCC’s move follows an increase in the influx of fake mobile handsets onto the Ugandan market.

Kampala

Communications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has issued a new deadline indicating that it will block counterfeit phones starting January 31, 2013.

The commission’s latest position comes about two months after the same body back-tracked on its earlier commitment to block fake phones from accessing any network in November this year, and instead shifted it to next year.

In a press statement, UCC said that all new fake phones will be blocked starting January 2013 while old counterfeits but already in use will be denied network access in July of the same year. “New counterfeit mobile phones that have previously not subscribed to any network shall be denied access to all networks. The proposed date for the implementation of this phase is January 31, 2013,” part of the statement reads in part.

Implementing deadline
It adds: “All counterfeit mobile phones, including the ones that have already subscribed to a network, shall be disconnected. The proposed date for the implementation of this step is July 1, 2013.”

But, Eng Geoffrey Mutabazi, the executive director of UCC told the Daily Monitor on phone yesterday, that while the commission is committed to block counterfeit phones as stipulated on the schedule, the process is a matter of public interest that may need to be postponed.

Eng Mutabazi said: “That is our timeline and if the public can respond positively, we can even implement this much earlier. However, we are aware that this is a matter of public interest that may involve discussions over the dates.”

The move by UCC to eliminate fake phones follows a growing entry and use of such handsets on the Ugandan market in recent months, following Kenya’s September 30 de-activation of sim-cards carried in fake handsets. This is in addition to the fact that fake mobile phones are far cheaper compared to original ones.

If implemented, thousands of people both users and traders, will be affected. Although there are no figures to quantify the number of fake phones on the market, a move through down town Kampala shows that many of the shops trading in phones have a bigger stock of counterfeit phones and parts than original phones.