Chile's device registering requirement kicks off

Chile's telecoms regulator Subtel said on Monday that users with mobile devices from abroad have 30 days starting February 11 to register them under the multiband/SAE norm that requires devices to be compatible with all active frequency bands and receive messages from the national emergency service (SAE).

Starting February 11, users of the devices in question will receive a text message directing them to https://multibanda.cl/ia/ where they have to manually register their device's IMEI, choosing from a selection of 15 companies that can certify online that the phone is compatible with all of the bands.

Blocking of unregistered devices will start March 13. The requirement applies to phones, tablets, alarm systems, and IoT gadgets.

The requirement for all phones to be compatible with all spectrum bands in the country was originally introduced in 2017 in response to complaints by operator WOM that alleged that competitors were tampering with phones and disabling the AWS band (1.7-2.1GHz) in which it offers 4G services.

The requirement was suspended by Subtel for the visit of Pope Francisco to avoid causing communications problems for people traveling to Chile and then reactivated on November 10.

The need for a national emergency alert system arose from Chile's propensity to suffer natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, flash floods and forest fires.