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Government & Utility Services on Gono Protocol
How BTRC, NEIR, and Electricity Providers can supercharge their services using blockchain provenance
Author: Jonayet Hossain
•January 5, 2026
Use Case A: NEIR (National Equipment Identity Register) — BTRC
What is NEIR?
NEIR is Bangladesh's mobile device registration system managed by BTRC. Key features:
- Automatic Registration: Legally imported/manufactured handsets auto-register when a SIM is inserted
- Pre-NEIR Devices: All devices used before NEIR launch are automatically registered
- Verification Methods: SMS (16002), USSD (*16161#), Website (neir.btrc.gov.bd)
- NID-Linked: Devices are registered to the owner's National ID
- Lost/Stolen Protection: Owners can lock/unlock devices via Citizen Portal
Current Challenges
| Problem | Impact |
|---|---|
| Centralized database | Single point of failure, potential data manipulation |
| Limited audit trail | No immutable history of device ownership changes |
| Duplicate IMEI issues | Multiple devices with same IMEI cause conflicts |
| De-registration disputes | No cryptographic proof of ownership transfer |
The Solution: NEIR Enhanced with Gono Protocol
Capture
- • When a device enters Bangladesh (import/manufacture), IMEI is registered on Gono Protocol
- • C2PA-style cryptographic signature links IMEI to importer/manufacturer identity
- • Device metadata (model, origin, date, brand, color) captured and hashed
- • Each SIM insertion event creates a provenance record
Certify
- • IMEI record anchored on Gono Protocol via ERC-7053
- • Creates immutable "Device Birth Certificate" on-chain
- • All ownership transfers (via De-Registration) recorded permanently
- • Lost/Stolen reports create blockchain-verified blacklist entries
- • Special Registration for expat devices gets on-chain verification
Check
- • Buyers: Verify complete device history before purchasing used phones
- • BTRC: Immutable audit trail for all registrations
- • Law Enforcement: Cryptographically verified ownership chain
- • Telecom Operators: Real-time, tamper-proof blacklist sync
- • Expats: Transparent Special Registration status
Enhanced NEIR Workflows
New Device Purchase Verification
Current: SMS "KYD <IMEI>" to 16002 → Get status
Enhanced: Same SMS → Get status + Blockchain verification link
→ View complete provenance history on Gono Explorer
De-Registration (Device Transfer)
Current: USSD *16161# → 10 min window → Transfer complete
Enhanced: Same process → Transaction recorded on Gono Protocol
→ Both parties get cryptographic proof of transfer
→ Immutable ownership history preserved
Lost/Stolen Device
Current: Lock via Citizen Portal → Device blacklisted
Enhanced: Lock request → On-chain blacklist entry
→ Cannot be removed without owner's cryptographic signature
→ Recovery status verifiable by anyone
Use Case B: Electricity Providers (DESCO, NESCO, DPDC)
The Problem
| Problem | Impact |
|---|---|
| Meter tampering | Revenue loss from manipulated readings |
| Billing disputes | No verifiable consumption history |
| Opaque subsidies | Hard to track who receives subsidies and why |
| Payment fraud | Fake payment receipts circulate |
The Solution: Smart Metering on Gono Protocol
Capture
- • Smart meters equipped with secure signing chips
- • Each reading is cryptographically signed at the meter
- • Timestamp, consumption, and meter ID captured with C2PA-style credentials
- • Reading transmitted to utility with embedded proof of authenticity
Certify
- • Meter readings anchored on Gono Protocol via ERC-7053
- • Creates immutable consumption record for each billing cycle
- • Payments recorded on-chain with verifiable receipts
- • Subsidy distributions logged transparently
Check
- • Consumers: Verify their own consumption history anytime
- • Utilities: Detect anomalies (sudden drops = potential tampering)
- • Government: Audit subsidy distribution with full transparency
- • Regulators: Access verified data for rate-setting decisions
Smart Billing Flow
┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
│ SMART METER │────▶│ GONO PROTOCOL │────▶│ CONSUMER APP │
│ (Signed Read) │ │ (Immutable) │ │ (Verify Bill) │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
Cryptographic On-chain record Dispute-proof
proof of reading of consumption billing historyUse Case C: Utility Bill as Verified Identity Document
The Problem
Utility bills are commonly used for address verification (bank accounts, SIM registration, KYC), but current bills are:
- • Easily forged (just edit a PDF)
- • Not independently verifiable
- • Often rejected due to trust issues
The Solution: Verified Utility Credentials
Capture
- • When a bill is generated, utility creates a digital credential
- • Contains: customer ID, address, billing period, amount, payment status
- • Cryptographically signed by the utility
Certify
- • Credential hash stored on Gono Protocol
- • Customer receives verifiable bill NFT (non-transferable)
- • Links to their verified address and payment history
Check
Banks, telecom operators, or government agencies can instantly verify:
- • Is this bill authentic?
- • Is this address verified?
- • Is the customer in good standing?
- • No need to trust a paper document or PDF
Integration with BTRC/NEIR
- • When registering a SIM, BTRC can query Gono Protocol
- • Verify that the submitted utility bill is authentic
- • Confirm address matches registered customer
- • Reduce fraud in telecom registration
Summary: Gono Protocol for Government & Utilities
| Service | Current Problem | Gono Protocol Solution |
|---|---|---|
| NEIR (BTRC) | Centralized DB, duplicate IMEI issues | Immutable device registry with full provenance |
| Electricity Billing | Tampering, disputes, opacity | Signed meter readings, on-chain bills |
| Address Verification | Fake bills, manual verification | Verified utility credentials |
| Prepaid Recharge | Fake receipts, failed credits | On-chain payment receipts |
| Maintenance | Lost records, no accountability | Immutable maintenance provenance |
Why Gono Protocol for Utilities?
| Feature | Benefit for Utilities |
|---|---|
| ERC-7053 | Immutable records for every transaction and reading |
| C2PA Integration | Tamper-proof meter readings and field documentation |
| Arweave Storage | Permanent archival of critical records |
| Public Verification | Citizens and regulators can independently verify |
| Smart Contracts | Automated subsidy distribution and payment routing |
By integrating Gono Protocol, Bangladesh's utility and telecom services can transform from opaque, dispute-prone systems into transparent, verifiable infrastructure that serves citizens better while reducing fraud and operational costs.