Kominfo Adds CEIR Machine Capacity To Accommodate New Mobile Phone IMEIs

smartphone illustration (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said that the Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) machine has returned to normal. The system, which is managed together with the Ministry of Industry, is ready to register the latest International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) data for mobile phones.

"The IMEI data for new cellphones has been uploaded, which was delayed yesterday. The current CEIR machine capacity is sufficient to receive the latest data," said Director General of Resources and Information Equipment, Ismail, Monday, October 12.

Previously, it was reported that the CEIR machine based on the IMEI number data was almost full, hampering registration. According to Ismail, the IMEI data for mobile devices that have entered CEIR currently has reached October 10, 2020.

The CEIR machine was built by the Indonesian Cellular Teleconstruction Association (ATSI), while the management was carried out by Kominfo and the Ministry of Industry. CEIR functions to integrate data in the Equipment Identity Register system in five cellular operators.

"If there are producers who are currently unable to enter their IMEI number data, they can immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Industry," said Ismail.

Chairman of the Government Relations and Public Policy Division of the Indonesian Cellphone Association (APSI), Syaiful Hayat, on Saturday, October 10, said that the CEIR system was 95 percent filled since September 23, as a result, IMEI cellphones that entered after that date could not be registered.

Aociation has written to the Ministry of Industry regarding this problem. The government enforced the IMEI validation policy on 15 September.

Kominfo reminded that the constraints related to the IMEI policy, which are beyond the authority of cellular operators, are sent to the Kominfo 159 call center. Meanwhile, for telecommunication service constraints, cellphone users can contact customer service of each cellular operator.