Guidelines for issuing mobile, CDMA phones

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has issued a set of procedures that need to be adhered to when using mobile and CDMA telephones.

This is aimed at preventing irregularities and illegal activities while minimising threats to national security created by the irresponsible use of telephones.

Accordingly all mobile service providers, dealers and sub dealers should check the photograph of the identity card of the subscriber for whom a SIM Card is issued. The SIM card can only be issued after ensuring the identity of the person.

If the photograph on the identity card is different from the holder's present physical appearance, the customer is not entitled to obtain a SIM card or a connection.

The SIM Card and the connection will be issued only after obtaining a new certified photograph of the subscriber.

The subscriber who legally possesses the SIM Card should not allow any other person to use it. If any subscriber who owns a legal SIM card wants to transfer it to another person he or she has to follow the procedure of obtaining a new mobile connection from the respective mobile service provider.

In addition corporate packages used presently by different institutions, under the names of those institutions will in future maintain those connections under their individual users' names.

In terms of the provisions of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, No. 25 of 1991, as amended by the Act No. 27 of 1996, the TRCSL will take steps to issue vendor licenses.

Accordingly no person shall by way of trade, manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, deal, transfer, hire, lease, demonstrate, maintain or repair any telecommunications apparatus, except under the authority of a license issued by the TRCSL.