07 November 2023
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has introduced the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system to protect mobile devices from theft and fraud.
The solution will protect mobile phone customers from handset theft, prevent mobile money fraud, and identify counterfeit or cloned mobile devices.
"The system empowers mobile phone owners by allowing them to trace or block their handset if it is stolen or lost," said MACRA Spokesperson Wezzie Nkhoma-Somba.
MACRA is carrying out the project in collaboration with TNM and Airtel Malawi. The system will provide complete privacy because it maintains and uses International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEIS) that detects the actual handset worldwide rather than SIM card numbers and all SIM card transactions.
"After seeing difficulties faced by the public when they lose their gadgets we came up with the system which will protect mobile phone subscribers from handset theft," said Nkhoma-Somba.
