To reduce the theft of SaskTel mobile devices in Saskatchewan, SaskTel has launched the Lost and Stolen Mobile Devices Service which will black -list reported lost or stolen mobile devices.
"SaskTel is committed to minimizing handset device theft within our province and the country and we are pleased to offer our customers the ability to report lost or stolen devices," said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. "Black-listing lost and stolen devices will essentially eliminate the black market for stolen devices in Canada and the U.S. by reducing the value of mobile devices for criminals."
SaskTel, along with all Canadian wireless carriers and participating U.S. wireless carriers will interconnect with the GSM Association (GSMA) database to blacklist IMEIs (International Mobile Equipment Identifier of 4G/4G LTE devices) that have been reported lost or stolen. The CWTA website www.ProtectYourData.ca will allow anyone to check the IMEI of a device to see if it is black-listed in Canada. If the IMEI number has been blacklisted, that device will not be able to be used on any Canadian network.
SaskTel has deployed an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) on its network to keep its own internal list of black-listed IMEIs. The EIR will connect to the IMEI database to share the latest list of black-listed devices with other carriers. The IMEI database takes black-list data from all Canadian and U.S. carriers that subscribe to the GSMA and compiles into one national black-list registry. When the SaskTel EIR downloads the latest black-list, all devices reported as lost or stolen by other carriers up to the previous day would also be capable of being blocked on the SaskTel network.
Customers can call 1-800-667-6870, visit a corporate store, or a SaskTel authorized dealer to inquire as to whether or not a mobile device has been blacklisted, add a device to the blacklist should it be lost or stolen, or remove a device from the blacklist should it be found.
