Is Mobile Signal Booster Legal in India

The Telecommunications Cellular Operators Association of India said citizens are unaware that buying, selling, installing and possessing mobile signal amplifiers (MSBs) is an illegal and criminal offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and India`s Telegraph Act, 1885. It has also been deemed illegal to advertise, sell, distribute, import or market signal jammers in India unless the above guidelines allow it, the DoT said. Telecommunications consultant Mahesh Uppal said many other unauthorized mobile signal extenders are likely to be put in place. One indication of this is the number of offers for devices that appear in a simple search on ecommerce sites. The Indian government has warned the country`s e-commerce platforms against illegally selling wireless jammers. In addition, the government has stated that it informs the public of the proper use of wireless jammers and amplifiers/repeaters. For those of you who do not know, installing, selling or possessing illegal repeaters is a criminal offence under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, as well as the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, according to the WMO. Mobile operators are investing heavily in spectrum acquisition and network expansion to improve the customer experience. However, illegal amplifiers cause interference in the mobile network. Amplifiers or range amplifiers help amplify signals for better phone reception.

However, unauthorized use of cell phone amplifiers can disrupt and disrupt public telecommunications services, the department said. It has been found that the use of cellular signal jammers, GPS blockers or other signal jamming devices is generally illegal unless specifically permitted by the Government of India. Private sector organizations and/or individuals cannot procure or use jammers in India,” the DoT said in a statement. The Telecommunications Department has warned e-commerce platforms against selling certain telecommunications equipment, such as wireless jammers and network amplifiers, whose sale requires government approval, an official statement said Monday. The inspection was carried out by the Wireless Monitoring Unit of the Telecommunications Division and supported by mobile operators and other relevant authorities, according to a press release from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Friday. “Our campaign against illegal mobile signal boosters is an ongoing one. This year alone, we have withdrawn more than 400 such aircraft from different parts of Delhi, and our efforts will continue in the coming days. We advise people not to use illegal repeaters as this would cause major disruption to the cellular network,” said G.K.

Reddy, chief engineer of the Wireless Monitoring Organization, according to the COAI statement. According to the Department of Telecommunications, possession, use and trafficking of unauthorized signal amplification devices are punishable. However, unauthorized use of cellular amplifiers can affect and disrupt public telecommunications services by compromising the quality and coverage of these services. “Illegal mobile signal extenders have become a major nuisance and are one of the main reasons why customers face network issues such as call interruptions and slow data speeds. These illicit repeaters are installed by individuals/facilities in homes/offices/PGs/guest houses to amplify mobile signals,” reads the COAI press release. With respect to signal amplifiers/repeaters, it has been determined that it is illegal to possess, sell and/or use mobile signal amplifiers/extenders of any person/entity other than authorized telecommunications service providers,” the statement said. “The use of jammer jammers or GPS blockers or other signal jamming devices is generally illegal unless expressly authorized by the Indian government,” the DoT said in a recommendation issued Monday. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents telecom companies, welcomed the move.

People do not know that buying, selling, installing and owning amplifiers is punishable under the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. “Unauthorized use affects telecommunications services,” said SP Kochhar, COAI`s chief executive. The campaign was also important to highlight the need to effectively communicate the laws and regulations relating to the installation of these illegal amplifiers, as according to the authorities, mobile amplifiers are still sold and installed in the country without permission. A total of nine notices have recently been issued in the Faraskhana Police Jurisdiction. This action was taken following complaints filed by the Wireless Surveillance Organization (WMO), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as well as a joint team of local government and mobile phone operators, who searched the city`s Peth neighborhoods, where the raid team installed illegal mobile signal boosters in homes, businesses and other commercial facilities. Wireless jammers or signal jammers intentionally interfere with or block 2G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi signals, GPS and other navigation communications by emitting strong radio signals of similar frequencies. Faraskhana police seized a total of 26 mobile phone boosters and disabled 27 by cutting power connections during a raid. The COAI had also asked the DoT to raise this issue with the Department of Trade and Industry in order to ban the import of these illegal boosters with immediate effect. A mobile signal booster/repeater is a type of amplifier that appears to be used to improve the signal reception of mobile phones. According to the DoT`s Wireless Surveillance Organization (WMO), installing, possessing or selling illegal repeaters is a criminal offence under India`s Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and India`s Telegraph Act, 1885.

Owners of several premises who have installed these illegal repeaters face heavy fines. This not only causes inconvenience to mobile phone users, but can also hinder access to emergency services from mobile phones, posing a risk to public health and safety, according to the DoT`s recommendation. During the inspection, 33 such signal amplifiers were found and removed, while 40 notices were issued to immediately remove the illegal devices.