The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) intends to create an online platform enabling Kenyan mobile phone users to authenticate their devices, as part of a renewed effort to combat counterfeit phones.
CA aims to establish a web-based system where users can input their phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) to verify its authenticity. Counterfeit phones are produced by manufacturers who replicate the designs and trademarks of genuine handset companies to deceive consumers, often offering cheaper alternatives that lack full functionality.
The proposed platform, as outlined in a tender document, seeks to empower consumers to discern fake products, encourage the use of genuine mobile phones, and diminish the sale of counterfeit devices. It will interface with the GSMA global device database, containing information on authentic phone models and manufacturers.
CA estimates that between 30 to 40 percent of mobile phones in Kenya are counterfeit, representing a substantial number of devices circulating in the market. These fake phones are typically distributed through informal channels, posing risks to consumer safety and depriving the government of tax revenue. The initiative builds upon the previous 1555 IMEI verification project and aims to address challenges such as high costs of genuine phones and inadequate enforcement of intellectual property laws.
Source : NTV
