Kominfo Select Whitelist Method To Block BM Cellphones

JAKARTA - The government finally decided to use the whitelist method or preventive measures to block Black Market (BM) phones based on International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. This blocking will take effect from 18 April.

"The government is committed to implementing the process of limiting the use of mobile devices, which are connected via cellular networks through IMEI control, in accordance with the applicable three ministerial regulations, namely starting April 18, 2020 with a whitelist scheme," said the Director General of Resources and Equipment of Post and Information Technology. (Dirjen SDPPI) Ministry of Communication and Information Ismail during a press conference in Central Jakarta, Friday, February 28.

The whitelist scheme is the process of controlling IMEI for preventive efforts so that the public first knows the legality of the equipment they are going to buy. So when people buy cell phones at retail, they are expected to check their devices directly, if it is proven that BM products, they will immediately be deactivated from cellular services from the start. Only legal equipment, aka non-BM that can signal to receive telecommunications services.

Ismail also appealed to people to buy legal gadgets and other computer equipment (HKT). And be sure to check the authenticity of the IMEI first through the imei.kemenperin.go.id site.

For information, this regulation will apply in the future, so that people whose devices are currently active even though the IMEI is not registered on the Ministry of Industry's website do not need to worry. It is known, devices that were active before the validity period of April 18, 2020, will remain connected to the cellular network at any time. Nor does it require individual registration.

However, if the public brings a device from abroad to Indonesia it will not be counted as a BM product, if they register the IMEI on their device first through an application that will be released right when this regulation is knocked on the hammer. Device registration must be registered while still abroad.

This policy is also beneficial for the public to be able to block lost or stolen devices through their respective operators, so that it is expected to reduce the crime of device theft.

Previously, Kominfo had also conducted a two-day trial of blocking by cooperating with the operator. The blacklist blocking scheme has been tested on the XL Axiata service, while the whitelist method was implemented by Telkomsel a few weeks ago.

For information, this whitelist method will retrieve IMEI data for all BM cellphones from the SIBINa system which is managed by the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin). Meanwhile, Kominfo will also use a tool called Equipment Identity Registration (EIR), which is equipped with data in the form of MSISDN (mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and user identities stored by cellular operators. This system is used by the government to carry out verification before blocking.